New-York tribune., 1889-12-20
AN ALLEGED NAVAL LOBBY.
THE SENATE ASKING SECRETARY TRACY
no MAKE AN INVESTIGATION.

srsrAxr pAYMAsTER CowIE SEVERELY
CRITICISED FOR THEIR METHODS OF
PROMOTING" NAVAL LEGISLATION
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE ThBoNEl
washington. Dec. Ex-senator Chambers rosoiu'
ton calling for an investigation by secretary Tracy
was taken up today and led to the lveliest running
debate the Senate has so far engaged in at TINS
session one of the incidents, indeed, WIS almost
sensatona-the reading from the desk OF t"o oirou'
lars sent out TO officers of the Navy by Passe'i
Assistant Paymaster Thomas J. Cowie ana eA-OOh-
gresham John X. Thomas. inclosngirequests for re
taners and contracts for contingent fees, payable on
,he successful passage of bill for the increase OF
salaries I'm various grades This opened the way ior
a general attack the methods of legislative pro-
motion employed by the Naval associations ana tho
men who ostensbly represented the interests CT thc
officers at the Capitol.
senators Chandler and Hale denounced the efforts
apparently making by Mr.. Cowie and Mr. Thomas
70 produce the impression that outside ihhueh0o
was necessary 10 secure the passage OF proper
measures of relief for the Navy. and SAID hat sum
s. promotion as promised was q decepuoh ana
a humbug In this view they were Joined by sen
ators Mcpherson and Cockrell. senator b"'i''
seemed inclined to think that ''
officers were merely wasting their SUD
stance in paying anything for such supposiutlous au
AS Washington attorneys and lobbyists mgt eNo
them but he thought 1t was none OF the SENATE 0Ol
cern II retaners paid TO lawyers Oh enc '"0oi
that they would look after the interests ol 'io e'
or the line Senator Call closed the disoussioh o'
reading some extracts the Constitution 10 SNOW
that any citizen had an nvioable nehV W iilie "
attorney for any purpose whatever Inc oeila'o
nassed the resolution asking for full Investigation
Of the @Iobbys and its dongs, and the report Oh INC
secretary will be sent in shortly after the Christmas
recess.
senator Chandler got the door at the close OF morn
ing business and asked for an immediate acuon Oh
the resolution. lie had introduced the measure he
said in the hope of asceraining as early as possioc
In the session to what extent methods OF promoton
had been used which, if not illegal, were at least
iIlegitimate and unbecomng. He wished 10 proVco'
naval officers levies (Which they could Ill anou)
for the alleged advancement of legislation aIects
rank and pay in the service Measures drawn anu
pushed in this way were almost certain 10 iau' Oh
account of the illegitimate means used TO ADVANCE
tb.m and the money contributed to further
such schemes went only 10 the agents ana
promoters. He wished to call the attehuoh oi
the Senate especially to bill drawn by Ihomas
j. Cowie as Passed Assistant Paymaster in the Navy.
This measure increased the rank and pay OF all
Officers irdscriminately There was no economy III
H. everybody was TO have advance OF salary
The bill had been floating about for some tme' ana
had reappeared this year in print having oeeh sehV
TO many Senators and Representatives, though ho'
vet actually presented in Congress. There was also
an organized movement TO get money out ol lhe
officers of the Navy the strength of this measure
He then sent UP to be read circular letter. slhed
by Mr. Cowie calling attention to the bill, statlhs
that Mr. Thomas had been engaged % look after
the bill In Washington, and commencing the eX-
Congressman as highly qualified for such employment
With Mr. Cowies circular was inclosed Vpe-writteh
letter from Mr.. Thomas. 1t was dated at Washington
December 2, and read as follows
Having been requested act attorney In the matter
of and a
passage by Congress of the bill proposed by Passed AS
sistant Paymaster j. Cowe, regulating the rank
and pay of the line and sta, advised to submit tha
following 10 you:
Considerable expense must necessarily be incurred, and
time and labor devoted the work. to succeed In this
measure justice those concerned My acceptance oil
the proposition dependent approval and the
remittance of retainer fee OF S5 in advance TO meet e
arising I'm the outset contingent fee equal to
10 per centm increased pay OF each once
for year only the said contingent fee TO DE paaDe
three months after the passage OF said BILL Congress is
now In session. and is essential that speedy action DC
taken II this meets your appreciation, please notify
and remit indicated at your earliest convenience also
sign inclosed contract witnessed as Indicated ana
return the same with your remittance.
JOHN II. THOMAS.
form Of contract was also submitted 10 the
Senate No estimate was made of the amount the
retainers and contingent fees would foot up II Mr.
Thomas cot responses from the great majority OF
officers 1t is said that the total would be between
100000 and S150,00o.
senator Chandler waited for the circulars to have
their effect and then continued his remarks lie dld
not object he said so much to the cash payments
for retsiners but the scheme of the promoters mad
also taken the extremely offensive form OF exactng
obectonsbe and discreditabe attempt to legs
lation which would probably be declared V0id az any
rate as against the Public p9s o ana an Illegal
some increase OF pay was necessary no uVupt anu
general increase was perhaps ustnaole M @ M S Tss tSs
adxFo np
projectors of which officers were solicited 10 MAKE
contracts and TO pay sSa their eG
was called TO this method as lllegumstc ana reprc-
hensble the better 1t wond be for pom m attacking thc
scheme Of Mr.. Cowie and Mr. Thomas: ~ Wss, ne
said matter Of deep ss a0G Ts S0@e beUr sW
about by attorneys in Washington .s o,soosod 70 do
fend the author Of the bill Increased pay but as to
Mr. Thomsss scheme OF promoon tnst was a wroE f.
make See 10 conrress they ought to present them through
the head of the Navy Department. ,
senator Hale from the other side of the chamber
Senator Butler began by sneerng at WA, M ne csen %
e p4pOsso 10 e acSse q. % eo% the officers spent their
money even u they put 1t into foolish attempts 10
senator Cockrell replied TO his ncighbor from sout
Carolina. He was asonished TO hear any member OF
ton va disgrace 10 the ocers and attorneys
concerned to resort 10 means so questonaolc ana
with outside agents he would not descend to answer
ing such question II answered ltseM, Ell, IN 1neh Inc ne
attacked the lobby once more. ending with me nope
that the resolution would be passed INN edistely.
Senator Call. however, got the floor. and argued on
the constitutional point that citizen might be repre-
sented BY counsel in any case and for any purpose.
The officers. he thought, were quite jnstlfable IN
getting their claims before Congress through agents.
In my Judgment the resolution is absurd" he said,
in conclusion The Senate thereupon passed 1t,
Mr. Calls being the only vote in the negative
A PROTEST FROM NETWORK ART DEALERS.
Washington, Dec. 19.-Secrctary Window end As