The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-12-12
CONGREssMEN A. ATTORNEYS.

SONGRfs>S WIN ~ Al hOhEN"h"-
That was n good bill which Mr.. BECK
of kentucky, offered i'll the House on
"Wednesday last. 1t operates to prevent
members of Congress from acting during
continuance in office, rs counsel for any
person against whom suits or proceedings
other than criminal, are about to be- COM
mcnccd for violation OF the revenue laws.
l. furthermore prohibits members from
appearing in behalf of any agent, cnl-
plovcc or officer of the revenue or Gus
toms service of the United States, in any
case relating to customs, dues, DC. Nor
shall anv compensation, gift, or reward
be received from any such person,
for counsel or legal advice.
A violation of this law is punishable
with a fine of not more than $1,000, and
imprisonment for Il term not exceeding
ten years, ut the discretion Of the Court
TRYING the offender.
The effects of this bill, should 1t finally
become a law, must be salutary. The
Congress of the United States, has, of
late years. been brought into considerable
discredit, by such proceedings on the part
of members being allowed. 1t is mani
testify wrong for any Congressman to APP
pear in any suit against the government
He is, himself, receiving pay from the
government; and it is his duty to act as
Guardian of its rights. He Is, rs it were,
constantly retained counsel for the
government, and, rs in ordinary
life, it is considered emincntly Disgrace
full for an attorney to accept rctancrs on
both sides of any action, so here the same
disgrace should be made to be attached
1t is also manifcstly OF Il wrongful
tendency for any member to appear in
any case of this nature ut all, because il
opens the door too widely for corruption.
Every member of Congress has, or is
presumed to have certain influence mt
the Capital, and accepting heavy fees for
the purpose of securing that influence.
smncks strongly of bribery. In fact,
when il is simmcrcd down, it is nothing
but bribery concealed under the name
of a, fccs for professional services.
II would even be better if the bill had
prevented members Of Congress from
acting rs attorneys in any case whatever
in which the Government is implicated.
Not only has the reputation Of General
BUTLER been strongly .impusncd by his
mixing mp in the moicty affairs which at
one time were so prominent before the
public; but it suffered still more by the
fees which he was said to have received
rs KELIoGG's counsel in the Louisiana
troubles.
Senator CARPENTERS "god send too
in the shape of the $4,000 fee offered him
by KELLoGG, AS soon US the Senator had
declared it as his opinion that
his government was illegal, is
still fresh in memory, and
will ALWAYS remain so, since the affair
with which he thus became connected
has produced more turmoil in the coun-
try than any other since reconstruction
commenced.
1t is sad to think that the times should
be So out of joint, that the reputation OF
the United States Congress should have
to he guarded by so stringent law; hut
il is true. And since the members them
selves have, to great extent lost so
much self respect that they are willing t"
ieopardize their own honor, it is right,
for the credit of the nation, that they
sb,ulJ he forcibly restrained.