Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1886-11-19
THE FINANCIAL OPPORTUyITiEs
Or POLITICIANS

T hdHdoOihe eSfaIts
thls, too, when he has had no privat
fortune to aid him. Suppose, for in
stance, man who has held State Of
worth three or four thousand dollars fo
the time mentioned; how has he managed
20 become the owner Of valuable fea
estate in city and country, and here and
there plump mortgage to say nothing
of the securities which the silent bank
vaults may hold in safekecping? o.
suppose a man who has steered himself
into high place in the Federal Govern.
mcnt: how is il that on his limited salary
be can maintain an expensive establish
mcnt in Washington as we'll as at his
home, enjoy all the Injuries that =
millionaire could enjoy. and We. rapidly
accumulate wealth? II is well know that
several ofthe Senators, and Pre- dents,
entered public life poor, and yet grew
rich while in Office. II is perfectly
understood that to many men the attrac-
ton Of public life is not the ambition to
solve the deep questions Of states
manship, or even the less noble, yet not
altogether unworthy, ambition to excel
in the conflicts Of Debate, but the chance
to put money in the purse. Yet the
question remains, How is tips done? Of
course there is no legitimate way of
making money out Of politics" But
how are the laws eyado
The counsel" plan is not the only
way in which Senator may be bribed
to use his vote and Influence for or
against given proposition, as his pur-
chaser may direct, without contrayening
the bribery acts There are some Sem
ators who have not even the shadow Of a
calling to appear as counsel For such
there are other methods. They may
for example, be taken in ION the ground
floor" Of some land grant railroad enter
prise. Or, still more carefully to avoid
insulting their delicate scnsibilities, the
bribe may come in the form Of a point "
Since the Credit Mobilier says states
men have been chary Of accepting pres
ents Of stock, but the giving of a point
will, through shadier paths, reach the
same end. Exactly how this is done
las not yet been brought out by Con-
yressional investigation, but it is easy
% imagine it. The President Of Ger
ain corporation, we will suppose, wish
IS some action to be taken by Congress.
n pursuit of his purpose he gees a GER
ain Senator and urges his case. In the
course Of conversation investments are
mentioned. aud in this connection he
,rges his Legislative frioats-vv@0uy such
md such stock. The stock il bought.
md then by some of the artb that are
,nown to managers the stoc k has a
boom,,n and the Senator, having been
luly posted as to the time to ''uhload, +"
.etlres from his venture with a hand
iome profit With The constant pres
.ure for Congressional action or inaction
in the part OF railroad and manufactur-
ng corporations, the legislator who has
an eye to the "main chance can add
largely to his "pile" in the course of a
single session.
Then. too, it is to be noted that many
of the Injuries which wealth procures
come to the Senator as free gifts, if he
will take them. He can travel as a
"deadhead' over the railroads from one
end of the country to the other; he can
even have the !oaa Of a private car, if he
will; he can conduct his correspondence
by telegraph without charge; many are
his little savings in these and such-likc
ways. All such things are, in truth.
brides. but a man who is "on the make"
will not on that account decline them.
As to boss who has not attained
Congressional honors. his ways of add
iug field to field need not be indirect. =
He sells his influence in securing offices.
sometimes in trade, and sometimes for
cash down; he sells tue right to valuable
contracts; lie sells the votes Of his crea-
lures in legislative bodies; he provides
support for his family and dependents at
the publicc expense.
A man who looks upon the officers of
the people as his possession or his prey
will naturally look upon the rights and
interests of the people in the same way;
if he makes spoil of one, he will make
spoil Of the other The sort Of man
whom the "spoils' theory Of govern
ment brings to the font is tie very sort
which gets rich in Office. And the man
whe gets rich in Office, whether as Cabi-
net officer, or Senator, or Representa-
live has betrayed his trust One may
not know how or when he fell, or how
often, hut the possession Of the goods is
prcsumptivc proof Of the crime.