Wilmington daily gazette., 1873-05-07
The power of lobbyists.

Lobbyism in this country is of short growth,
but the power of Lobbyists has become a source
of fear, and is detested as one of the greatest
baaes of the body polite
Lobbyism has grown into profession. Men
live by it aud become through it the masters
of immense fortunes at their hosphable tables
the most influential of our Lawmakers are en-
tertained and often made the aiders and abet-
tors of a designing policy, the true character
OF which they are not fully aware of until they
have taken positions from which they cannot
well retreat.
Il matters not what the Bill is that is laid
before Legislative body in some of the States
the Lobbyist is ready TO take fee and work
t,r its passage OF for Its defeat :; and it has
been said in Pennsylvania that charter tor le
most charitable institutions cannot be passed
unless the Lobby is satisfied.
To such a conviction of the truth OF this had
the public mind come that on an occasion not
long since, several thousand dollars were set
aside for this very purpose, by one of the great
charities of Philadelphia that desired legislation
to enable it TO go forward with its labor OF
love.
These things are known. They are a source
of regret, and ought to be such a shame and
disgrace as TO cause those engaged in such work
10 be hOoied out of respectable society.
But such is not the case. The Lobbyist has
steadily increased in power and influence
The Philadelphia Ledge of Monday saws =
There is good ground for the belief that there
IS a dozen or two of men in this city, who. if
they use the means and the influence at their
command, can carry any bill through the Legis
lature or kill any bill against the united voices
of all the rest of the people,"
Another Philadephia paper says: There is
equal reason for belief that there is half dozen
men in Harrisburg who can do the same thing
OF the truthfulness of these opinions the people
of Philadelphia have time and again had painful
practical demonstration
The Ledger further remarks: There is one
man there every winter who seems to possess the
same power as to a certain class of bills"
We hear and see this business condemned, and
pointed to as one that is far from being recognized
as reputable and conducive to the public good and
yet it finds those who are ready to encourage il
and pay heavy sums of money for its influence,
Notwithstanding they know that the very power
taey are this year rearing to aid their schemes
may next year be in the hands of others opposing
eAcAA bC1A lutSLGSAn EOt Nuo AAOuDylhtp luIBee1
fees most frequently are drawn from the side on
which the most evil and least good is found.
Happily in Delaware, since the prohibition
of lotteries, our legislature have not been
troubled great deal with Lobbyists; and our
people had begun TO think we were free from this
sysIem OF extortiUn and corruption No people in
any pant of the State seemed to dread 1t so much
the citizens Of Whining ton. They talked
against 1t, and heaped the greatest amount Of
odium upon all who dared to receive a lee from
outsider for exercising his influence upon the
members Of the Legislature. The Third House
was 'an engine of infamy, and an abuse that
amounted TO a curse"
NetWithstand this VIC have the painful reflection
forced upon US, that the most open and bold at
tempt TO re-establsh the Lobbyism at Dover-to
erect again the Third HOUSE, /" proceeds from our
own city. And what seems most astonishing the
fee for the greatest Lobby that Dover has wit.
messed since the memorable days OF the great lot
terry grants, comes out of the treasury OF our city
and Wilmington Is found building up at Dover
what Philadelphia, through her public press, de-
nCunces as engine of corruption ard power
that is 10 be feared and dreaded by all good peo-
pie.