New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-25
HA UNITING THE LOBBY TILL DEATH.
TIE MELANCHOLY CAR Err OF CLAIM
ANTS-GARFIELDS CLIENT.

IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT or TIE TRIRUNE.I
WASHINGTON, Dec. 24.-What f9rCcs and
tragedies continually being enacted in the lobby
If tho history of only small number of the claimants
who yearly besege the doors OF Congress were known
what interesting reading it would make; what record
1t would he Of rascay and intrigue; what acsi would
tell Of justice denied, hopes deferred Affections wretch
cducss and despair But of tho thousands of claimants
who apply to Congress at every session. not more than
ten perhaps. get relief yet their number never dimn-
ishcs.. Hone springs eternal in the human breast
The claimant present lie retres from the
feed. Death only ends his career He comes 10 Wash
inson full hopes and with a belief in the justice
OF the Government He thuk5 that all he has to do 10
recognition is to present his lie finds that
he has to reduce his claim to writing He does SO ana he
disappear behind the doors of committeeman
10 which Abundance is denied him. lie begins TO
talk to Congressman in tho lobby, IN
the streets at their homes He becomes known lie is
a marked man. Everybody avoids him. He is voted
bore; nuisance. Pubic dodge him they
him approach They dart down side streets or seek
refuge in obscure when they hear his fooste
He is stunned If the mark of some dreadful disease
upon him. Dcwidcrcd, to other claimants
for advice lie is told to employ counsel With heavy
heart and grim fOrcbOduSs as to the result lie hands
over some shark portion of his slender means
retainer lie might well have thrown his money in
the
Now he begins to live promises From day TO day
he is told that his is making progress. We are
] IT,
The unfortunate claimant wonders when the end VIII he
reached and moves less expensive quarters for his
money is beginning TO give out He still hauns the
Hobbies Of Capitol and fingers about the door OF tie
commlteeoOm. His spirits are less buOyant than when
he first here His checks have lost their color.
His face begins reveal TIE traces Of suf-
fering ana want. Stll the cOunse! bids him
TO hope But more money is wanted. lie cannot
expect counsel to work for nothing lie, therefore,
borrows from friends Relatives are called upon
contribute. They grant his requests at first. They
know his claim to be just II Is not possible. they
argue that this great Will refuse to settle
il as as is drawn to it in the proper
manner. They believe i'll his honesty. at least, and
| make advances upon advances. New fire. new e"orsy
put the claimant, In some mysterious way
up before the committee II is even favoraby
reported 10 the House The outlook is decidedly bright
spirits of the claimant rise. Yet how soon are
| the claimants hopes doomed TO disappointment Inc
/ bill Is buried under mass OF others which nave
precedence 1t cannot be reached Counsel says ne IL
moving heaven and earth to bring it up for cousdera
lion. More money is required Iy some freak of good
luck it is forthcoming Where II to, counsel only
can tell Bills passed daily, other measures are
making progress, but the Ella auts case remains where
IL. The money evidently had not ,e desired eject
And now the final day OF the session is approach.ue
The anxiety and suspense of the claimant increase from
early dawn tin late az night he hauuts tho lobby.
| lie his bill advancing on the calendar
lie knows it can be reached lie feels it ought to pass
l
his reach a!mosWhent the gaNrI OF the speaker dS anu
/ the session OF Con gTr>e cOue- To a close.
Tie claimant deVojes IN, existence the prosecution OF
ms claim. II becomes ne one abo'rnns p','"n OF ms
lI5oSS h, IJc I,.~, his fricn's lis money has
gone ion. before. How he manages 10 exist Is q my
terry. HI, lodgings nowhere and yet lie j KNOW" al
over town A. Congress after Congress meets hc i at
ard with IN, claim. Hop" SIM bear, MIN up. He j. al
aysc,ntdeu OF success. stu prAls art lcS~ly about
the justice n his claim lie sun pursue. lontIt7si.en
with his talk He ,uH cour"nts the do"rkr'Icr o the
pa,ses he grows seciy Dl-,lraoh perhaps does IT.
work He becomes an object OF contempt - he was
af ~ man and What bis daily Grand Vas iii,
claim becomes a myth, himself irind !" ne ne new
i, AZ land TarasraI III the loca paP.r- 1nnounc,ns
the death of well. known character forms me HhA
chapter The history oi the claim Is revived II even
excite. langud discussions for tine ana there wa nr
some wonder expressed why that claim WAS never pld
by this great and generous Government
The attention Of Congress yearly drawn 10 cases OF
which the foregoing l. only iylr thry wiz c"i,in IT,
body FOR passing nrou tie claims ~ citizens as3n-t me
/ Government. The injustice 81 this system Ais been
recognized bv many. II this which made Charles
sumner excaIn, after be had AIDE two hours eloquent
and able aryu"ept tue senate in behalf Of the
French spoation claims and when h" "a" that h- pea
had effect upon the dSnihed senators IMAM the
wind that ronrs about the statue of IIo't on 10Y "I
the DONE: believe va have the nranr~ ana most dl'
honest Government on earth with i'r',idcnt Garfield
remedy and illustration Of which hc told Dlnu fiat
story Of his experience II was OF an Old woman
who Washington. with "a claim dating lhrk l"
the Revolution The amount asked for was too SINAI 10
simple minded lady could not uudrr-tand why her
Just demand should not nj once be Recognized ana
settled Bot passed and years with her were lev
aud Urcc!ous. Some kind hea'icd people !cifhlhk "I
Ir re. far She was very poor Interested themselves
and not only urged the passage oi tue h bu' gave Lrr
support the meanwhile. Sometimes the li'I ni--cl
tLe House to hc lost in Senate Then II would get
through thu SENATE. be defeated by one fathi
objection in the House. The little old lady iolG"ed Tue
measure from senate to House, from House 10 senate
Sitting in one place. she watched aud waited patiently
session after session, and waited in one day Car
field caught ut advantage. tn" fatal olect'r 'or
wonder was absent. He had "A throat and could not
snrak above whisper General Garfield In ul OF The
proceedings brought up the bin Of the ie Old lady hnd
IL hvc minutes passed il to law He sent page 10 MS
friend aud client with the joyful things She dropped
her knit Ing and lifting hands ~ II FOR thank-evlns
she tainted They carried her tcndcrly to the committee
room District Of Columbia and labored loug 10
restore her ID CONSEQUENCES; but the poor Old soul
shocked beyond hearing by the good had winged
flight a tribunal where let IL DO hoped, lobbyists
.t,ll ,tt,re an,nr trph nike MnknOMn.