The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-05
The Railroad Lobby at Washington.

The operations, the management, and the
discipline OF the powerful lobby which the
Central Pacific and Union Pacific corpora
tions have organized and kept active at
Washington since the meeting of Congress,
have attracted comment from most OF the
leading newspapers not subsidized in their
interest The chief business OF that lobby has
been to prevent any legislation adverse to
these mighty monopolies, and especially to
defeat the moderate bill OF the Judiciary
Committee Of the Senate, which only exacts
twenty-five per cent of their net earnings,
as sinking fund to repay the Government
the advances OF capital and interest, which
already aggregate an enormous sum that
Is year by year swelling in millions.
These sinister influences have at last be-
come so audacious as to arrest the attention
Of the Senate and To provoke criticism even
stronger than that Of the most outspoken
press Two illustrations, from leaders like
Mr.. THURMAN and Mr.. EDMUNDs, represent
ing the Democratic and Republican parties,
or rather that portion of each which is not
suspected OF corrupt practices, will give the
public fair idea Of the opinions held by
upright Senators on this subject. In the
running debate on Tuesday last, Mr.. Thur
MAN said:
"Ihave seen this senate Chamber filed with the rail.
road lobby have the gallerc. hled have
the corridors nllei; have the committee he.
eged; have Senators be sed their house,
by the railroad lobby; but never did urg.
tng legislation hostile to these companies
This Senator spoke from his personal OBJ
servation and knowledge, and in terms that
admit OF no ambiguity. He might have
gone further than he did but Mr.. EDMUNDs,
who succeeded him, filled the gaps in way
that cannot fail to Impress the country.
His experience was stated In the following
words:
81 have seen the officers NJ the companies in h rey
Ssnuie Chamber the day bill was to be up distributing
their passes with an ostenatous mpudence that was
amazing Ihope 1t did not affect Senator suppose II
did not Ihave htty cents line paid 10 affect legls
lauon In the editorials OF newspapers That Is very
small price now. That was In old times. suppose the
present editorials paid for at rather higher prices
But we shall mad out by and by by an inquiry the two
Houses are willing 10 direct iand perhaps the present
Government directors be- able to look alter II little
ho~ mIh u'o"g has bee" ,4d Jy these ooppanis To pro
teet their rights. they call it, m present Can
sre' not to any senator or member OF consressI beg
everybody not 10 misunder mcbut pursue
body TO his house and appeal TO his personal friendship
Tor this director that director appeal his Interest
IN prOuculs MS commitment VINO tud some bonds OF
other thing, TO excite his prejudice 10 misead hi,
Judgment everything that goes to make unjust influence
upon legislation may have taken place to greater OF
less degree"
After these strong and unequivocal decla-
rations by two OF the foremost senators, it is
difficult to see how an inquiry by Congress
can be avoided. They have described tho
general lobby with fidelity, but with barely
delicate and suggestive reference by Mr.
EDMUNDs TO its most important element on
.he floor OF the Senate, When Senators are
free from any connection with these cor
porations, receive no passes do not act as
counsel for them, and are under no personal
obligations for favOrs, the lobby will be-
powerless, and not before
Mr.. EDMuNDs's criticism of the press had
probably direct allusion to the unanimity
with which the papers at Washington sup
port the Railroad bill reported by SrANL.E,
MATTHEWS from HIPPLE-MITcHELL's com
mittee. Having no constituency behint
them. they are not likely to exert much In