The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-06-29
SIRENS OF THE CAPITOL.
LADY LOBBYISTS WHO HAVE AN
INFLUENCE ON LEGISLATION.

INFLUENCE ON LEGISLATION.
The Mother of Them All-Congress-
man Breckinridge a Favorite of the
Woman Loobyist-Three Obdurate
wretches Who VIII Not Listen
While She Talks.
(Copyight.)
WASHINGTON, June 2S.-How far the in
-iuence of woman operates OF legislation in
this country can not even be estimated, for
such an estimate would have not only to
include the influence of legislators wives,
which doubtless is considerable. but it must
go back and take in the mothers at whose
knees our law makers learned those earlier
lessons which are never quite forgotten.
But there is direct feminine influence
which is tangible enough to form a basis for
estimation. or at least for speculation.
A few weeks ago it was announced that
because more room was needed for the
House committee on ways and means the
room in the south wing of the capitol,
which had been used by the ladies as place
of waiting for and meeting representatives
to whom they had sent their cards, would
have to be given up to that committee
Easy chairs and sofas were accordingly
placed in one corner OF Statuary hall, as
the old hall of representatives is now called,
and here the ladies are provided
with pages and the means of sending for
such members as they may wish to see. /
am informed that the change was made not
at the suggestion of the ways and means
committee, nor for its better accommoda-
ton, but at the instance of many ladies who
had observed that women of questionable
character were in the habit of coming to
this room and using its dark corners as
places for meeting somewhat unobserved
those members who were willing to meet
them there.
In the bright light of Statuary hall, and
in the publicity of the corner set apart for
them, the ladies now find relief from this
annoying association. and as they sit and
wait for members they may study the eff
gies of those great men who are memorial
ICED here, reflect upon the wickedness of
Lewis Cass' tailor, and trust that, for the
peace of his soul this statesman's coffin fits
him better than his coat.
This waiting room accommodates more
ladies than the old one did, since it is very
desirable place for those who are ''doing"
the capitol to stop and rest. Being just at
one side of the main route of travel between
the two wings of the building, it gives good
view of the panorama of passing multi
mani in charge, is peculiarly courteous and
painstaking in pointing out to the ladies'
such notables as may be passing. Here it
is that the femme lobbyists congregate and
exercise their considerable influence on the
legislation Of the republic
The word lobbyist has come to be re-
galded as almost a term of reproach, and
when the name of woman is coupled with it
we are apt to think only of that short
harded, long tongued, bold-faced, strident-
voiced creature, who, being neither man
nor woman, is usually avoided by BOTH
But there are lobbyists and lobbyists, and
among those who come to this capitol very
few of the feminine ones want in modesty,
gentleness or sweet persuasiveness. These
few are bores, the very worst of bores,
since, wearing the garb of woman, they
have to be treated with a show of courtesy.
But for the most part the women who may
be classed as lobbyists are respected by the
best members and treated with earnest con-
slderation.
In point of service Mrs. Olive NJ Hecht-
man is the oldest, believe, of the women
now regularly engaged in lobbying in
Washington. For twenty-six years she
has been the self-elected champion, friend
and attorney of all sorts of worthy claim
ants, and while she has tlrelessly labored
through the years for such as were other
wise friendlesS and unaided, she has stead
tasty refused to accept any commissions or
remuneration in money for her work. 1t
is and ever has been a labor of love, the
result of good principles earnestly ad-
hered to and boundless sympathy for the
unfortunates of our race. | am credibly
informed that through her mediation no
less than 10000 pension claims have been
adjudicated, and that in every case the
pensioner has been, or has been believed to
be, worthy and in need. Yet this is but
a portion of Mrs. Huchtman's work She
has interested herself in behalf of thous-
ands of claimants other than pensioners,
and in all sorts of reforms of the general
laws looking toward the relief OF oppressed
classes.
She knows personally more influential
men, perhaps, than any other woman in
America, and though her fame has not gone
as far as that of many women who work
for lesser ends, but with more ostentation,
she has probably done more, in her quiet
practical way, for the really needy tina /
most of those whose names are familiar to
the tongues of this nation and the world.
If this be an extravagant claim, l have
made it in q frame of mind quite free from
prejudice, for have no personal acquaint-
ance with the lady; know her only by
her works, and judge her only by a long
record Of consistently good results-a
record which began in the hospitals
war, and has been continued through the
years of peace with undated energy and
faithfulness. OF course, Mrs. Hecntman is
in comfortable circumstances financially.
No hwoman who was not could thus
devote herself to Others without living by
the charity of friends. She has share of
this worlds goods, and is striving to see
that those who have not be raised from
their condition of distress. In personal ap-
pearance Mrs. Hechtman is delicate fra
gile-looking lady, whose snowy hair dis
putes the question of age with her clear,
keen eyes, her vigorous tones and alert
movements.
She is an earnest believer in that spiritual
science which has come to us from the
Orient under the name of the Wisdom
religion, and attributes her success in the
practical work TO which she devotes herself
to the influence of the other world, with
which she claims continual though re-
stricted, intercourse. For this, of course,
she is often called a crank; but the sincerity
of her faith and the truly glorious results
which she must be conscious of having
achieved, give TO her, have no doubt, the
fortitude TO bear all such epithets. or rather,
perhaps ought to say, raise her to a hight
xph for iS tba