New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-04-07
IMMORAL CONSIDERATION. AN
THEREFORE VOTD.

Inc character Of modern legislatio,
mas SO Tar changed, that while honest an6
industrious men can no: possibly devote
themselves to political service without
rum, ignorant and INSCRIPTIONS individ-
uals find profit in legislation. The char
acter OF such legislators renders some
intermediary indispensable to enable them
10 secure the object Of their election
Were the inducement sufficient to attract
competent men to legislative services.
what need would there be Of attorneys to
draw Legislative bills ? Is it supposed that
such practice is tolerated by legislators
OF ability in the old countries, or even in
the Old States Not at all. The chair
man, or some mem Der of q comuittee
prepares bill to carry out the views of
the committee. Every word is weighed
IN committee. It is referred anew to
Committee on Enrollm ent which scrrtin-
ICES errors of ortho graphy and guarantees
that the bill shall reach the executive
precisely as il was passed by the Leeisla-
ture. When, however, the legislation is
Of interior character, there arises neces-
sity for the lobby. Bills are drawn to
order, handed to mem Der to introd11ce
referred to a committee and passed often
IN the same words that it was reported
from committee. The lobby rat is insep
arabic from an ignorant or vicious leois-
lation. In process Of time he NAV acouire
entire control of the premises, the repre-.
sentatives Of the people may be the mere
formal agency for giving effect 10 the
fraudulent designs Of lobby brokers upon
the public treasury. There have been
very stringent laws enacted for the pun |
ishment OF the briber and the bribed, but |
very little good has been effected by their |
enforcement. 1t has been necessarily de-
cided, however, by the Supreme Court
That claims for lobby services are not
founded IN good morals, and can not be
maintained in the courts
In the course OF the opinion the coDrt
says that the agreement in the case was
for the sale OF the iniiuance and exertions
VI tho ioooJ agent 70 Drlng about the |
passage OF law for the payment of a
private claiU without reference to it's
merits, by means, which if not corupt were
il!egtlmate, and considered in connection
with the pecunlary interest of the agent.
contrary TO the soundest principles of
public policy.
Inc dangerous consequences OF differ
ant doctrine are shown by the suppose
ton:
II any one Of the great corporations of
he country were TO hire Adventures who
nake market of themselves in the way TO | ,
procure the passage of general law with |
| view TO the promotion Of their private | !
interests, the moral sense of every RIGHT
minded man would instinctively denonce
he employer and employed as STEPPED in
oHeSptionfnd the employment as infamous,
the instances were numerous. open and
olerated, they would be regarded as meas.
ring the degeneracy of the times. No
rophetic spirit would be needed to foreteN c
ne consequences near at hand. |
The most efectual step to disband the Y
obby will be for the people to elect none t
ut honest and competent men, who do t
OF need these dry nurses of legislation. v
ut what with the dangers of punishment. .
ae annulment Of their contracts, and the +
}" rate OF value assigned to many public d
'curities usually assigned to LOBBYISTS. Il
e have some right to hope that this use "
SIS and pernjcioas class will disappear ',