Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1879-12-17
OUR WASHINGTON LETTER.
Lebbyfs lists and Their ways-Hew They
Fleece the observation-disclosures
men Getting Rich ON $4,000
Year-A Democrat On the
Democratic Congregations
gressIonal Wick edness-
~ Fitzsfmmons and
FIiz's DepHsfes. 81
DC. dc.
From Our own Correspondent

WASHINGTON. D. c., Dec. "A, '79.
The city does not fill up SO rapidly
as the hotel keepers expected, for the
reason that nothing is accomplished
in the way Of legislation until after
the holiday recess. Senators and MEM
bers draw their pay with commenda-
bic regularity meanwhile, bat custom
has established mastery Congress
sional inactivity until the festivities Of
Christmas and New Year have been
INDUCED in. But the lobbyists are all
on hand, ready to rope in'' such
Congressman as are willing to be
bought with price," Just now the
aforesaid lobbyists are needy. seedy
set of mortals,, but after recess they
hope to replenish their depleted ex-
chequers. There are two classes of
Washington lobbyists. There are the
honest ones, who always work hard
for th cir money and neverreceive COM
pensation from claimants without rem
dering a quid pro quo. Then there are
the dishonest ones who resort TO black
mail to extort money from those in.
terested in the passage of large claims.
The means these professionally resort
to are about as follows: A. B., lob
byist, will approach G. D., claimant,
aud chow him list of sixty or eighty
Congressman and inquire kow- much
the said G.. D. will be willing to pay
for each vote on that list that may be.
cast in favor of his claim. If the
claimant replies that his claim is a ust
one and he will give nothing, A. B.
| then goes among the members and
circulates damaging story, to the
effect that the claimant has been
Boosting publicly of the Congressman
whose votes he has captured. Or, he
will manifold an alleged special dis
patch to some newspaper giving the
names of delegations whose votes
have been suspiciOusly obtained to
SUPPORT the claimants bill, insinuat-
| ing that other and more damag-
ing exposes will soon follow.
Thus even upright Congressmen
are deferred q from supporting
even Just measure, not caring 90 have
their names scandalously discussed.
When B. C.'s measure is defeated, A.
B. goes to him and says, / told you SO.
Had you agreed to pay me $500 for
each vote in my list, | could have
passed your claim A shrewd lobby
list has only to play this trick once or
twice when he becomes known, and
then his fortune is made, as he rakes
in plentiful supply of the ducats.
Thenceforth he has only to chow his
list aud demand from $500 to $500 for
each vote given the claimant, when he
returns the list to bis pocket, and
awaits the action of the House or SEN
ate on the bill in question. II il passes,
he quietly goes to the tally clerk and
| checks off each name on his list that
voted "yea,', and then he goes to the
claimant and receives his "swag."
| There are at least four lobbyists here
who live in princely style, whose
money is made in the above rascally
| manner. As class they are in
copartnership with villainous Bone
| mians, who render them aid at oppor-
tune moments, by sending specials to
newspapers, either putting or attack
| ing the claims upon passage. AS o
rule these lobbyists are go notorious
| that Congressmen will not recognize
them on the streets, but when night