Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-27
CONGRESS- AND THE LOBBY.
How a Grear Plot Was Exposed Through
Senator Conger's Watchfulness =
scheme With Millions in Il Comes TO
Naught-The Influence of the Third

NauRuL-Iuo l0uue0C0
House Not All Powerful.
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE DIsPArcH.I
WASHINGTON, October 25-It is a common
saying among all sorts of people that every
man has his price, and it is probably to this
proverb, as well as to many episodes in the
history of Legislatures, that the impression
may be charged that in all lawmaking bodies
there is vast deal of corruption. To Penn
sylyanians. whenever the subject is mentioned,
the ghost of that episode of the Pennsylvania
Legislature must arise in which W. H. Kem-
BILE was the chief actor, and in the Congress of
the United States nothing will ever efface the
recollection of the Pacific Mail bribery and the
scandal of the Credit Mobilier, though TO this
day none of the actors in that drama viii ad-
init they were guilty of corruption.
Speaking the other day on this subject with
a gentleman who passed long years in the
House and Senate, he was led to say that he
did not think bribery was nearly SO common in
legislative bodies as it is thought to be in the
popular mind Occasionally there were occur
rences like that in which Kemble and others
were involved, once in hundred years there
is Pacific Mail or Credit Mobilier scandal,
once in while it is charged with some show of
reason that Congressman has purchased his
way through district conference, or that a
Senator has bought the balance of power in a
legislative caucus, and these give color to the
sweeping charge that Legislatures are gener-
ally corrupt
Bribery Seldom Practised.
2 "In 20 years of experience in the Congress of
the United States" said the gentleman, ~
have never known more than half dozen in
stances in which / was satisfied bribery had
been used. That was during the long and
memorable contest for the reissue Of many
important patents. which occurred many years
bo Of all @t,og ah;
patents were on hand to secure renewal, as
the II years for which the patents were to run
had expired. My relations were such that L
was led to watch narrowly every movement of
the attorneys of the wealthy corporations
which owned the patents, as well as of the
Committee on Patents, which had charge of
the bills for the renewal. Representative,
afterward Senator, Conger, of Michigan, was
made Chairman of the Committee on Patents
in the House. He did not want the place, and
asked Speaker Blaine why it had been given
him. Blaine answered that it was because he
knew how to say no.
mo matter what may be rightly chargeable
to Blaine in other matters, it must be said to
way of any unjustiiable renewal of patents, and
one of the greatest obstacles was the appoint
ment of Conger to that Chairmanship,' for
Conger was known to be shrewd, conscientious,
thoroughly honest, and Blaine knew that if
ever bribery might be expected 1t was in this
case.
A Horde of Lobbyists.
There were several great patents at stake.
chief among which were those ON sewing ma
chimes on mowers and reapers, and on the Tan
ner car brake. The last named had fallen en-
tirely into the hands of railroad corporations,
who paid the inventor petty royalty. The
grand lobby, however, was in the interests of
the sewing machine men. Not only did they
have the best counsel they could procure, but
how had aria af oil rirdo 81,
to buttonhole and dine and wine and influence
in every possible way Congressman whose at
tention they could secure. OF course, the
great fight was before the committee No
matter how thorough the work the lobbyists
might do with the general body, If the commit
tee should make an unfavorable report the
chances for success would be ImmeasurabIy
lesSened.
1.-THE arguments in committee were almost
interminable. The committee was patient the
chairman always suave and polite, but he cross
questioned in his homely way SO keenly as to
put the attorneys constantly at DISADVANTAGE
1t was plain that Conger was bent on doing. as
far as he could under the law, what he thought
was for the greatest good Of the greatest num-
Der. Nearly every claim for reissue was re-
fused, except in the case of poor inventors who
had been forced to place their patents at the
mercy of capitalists, and who had received al
most no benefit from their inventions. In case
of reissue of such patents they reverted tn
the inventor if he had not disposed of his in
vention or the royalty upon it by new con-
tract contingent on the renewal.
Why Conger Was Indignant.
"Well, toward the close of the hearings of
the committee things began to grow hot It
was evident the agents Of the corporations
must make some tremendous effort to gain
their purpose or all was lost. The sewing-ma-
chine men gathered themselves together for a
grand coup. Chairman Conger was called away
for day or two on private business, and dur
ing his absence important former actions OF the
committee were reconsidered and reversed.
When the chairman came back there was
pretty row. Conger plainly limited that the
lobbyists had got in their work, and declared
that portion Of the committee could not re-
scind any action Of the committee in the abb
sence of the remainder of the committee.
There was a heated argument on the point.
not readily yield their position. Finally Con-
ger electrified the committee by the declara-
tion that if the former decision of the commit
tee were not restored he would go upon the
and give his reasons in the most unmistakable
language. This had the desired effect, and the
committee took the back track.
las last and desperate resort the agents OF
the sewing machine lobby determined to
attempt to reach the chairman himself. Ac-
customed to see men fall down before the
golden calf, they fancied the great show of
virtue on the part of Conger was merely for the
purpose of striking for a high figure; and so
they laid their heads together and decided to
beard the moral lion in his den.
A willy PIotter.
sThe leading attorney of the sewing machine
combination himself agreed to undertake the
difficult capture of the chairman. He set about
to cultivate the genial gentleman from Michi-
gan. He was brilliant man, a splendid racon-
teur, perfect gentleman in his manners. a
fascinating companion in every way. His ap-
proaches were not repulsed. Conger has
wonderful keen sense of wit, and no man appre-
ciates brilliancy and eloquence more than be-
He allowed, but did not seek. the company OF
the attractive attorney. Finally the tine came
to strike the blow. One evening the attorney
called on the Chairman at the latter's rooms
He found him alone and employed his most
charming powers OF conversation to put me
HE went over all Of the most specious argu-
ments that had been advanced In support OF
the reissue of the patents and ended BY con-
Tossing that refusal tn reissue would result IN
the almost bankruptcy of the great companies
interested and that they would be willing to
spend almost any amount at the moment to ac-
complish their ends.
The Scheme UnfoIded.
"sDo you mean to say that the companies
would be willing to pay large amount In cash
TO have the patents reissued p said Conger
timidly, and yet with show Of expectation.
".That is exactly what mean said the at
torney.
"To whom would the money be paid asked
Conger. with the innocence of a child.
"'Well, TO any one you may name-say-say
the members of the committee, or-or-weli.
Yourself for instance said the attorney, show
ing the first sign of embarrassment.
"Do you mean to say that you would pay me
a large sum if secure the reissue of the
patentsf' said Conger with such countenance
of perfect acquiesence that the attorney was