The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-06-28
FAT PROPHET AGAIN.
He Laments the Corruption of
Modern Legislation.
PRIVATE AND SPECIAL BILLS.
EvfI work OF the Lobby - Schemes
Pushed Through Uunder Pretense OF
Promoting Public welfare.

PROVIDENCE. R. l., June 1.-THE dinner OF
the Commercial Club this evening was the last
of the season, and distinguished assernolage
sat at its board. "Private and Special Legisla-
ton" was the theme of the evening Ex-Cniei
Justice Durfee was the first speaker. He Ia
nented the corruptness OF the lobby, ana en-
phasized the importance of citizens and nusi-
ness men taking more active intsrestin politics.
Ex-President Cleveland spoke at length IN the
same strain. He said this unfortunate negiecs
of matters of politics and Legislation
has actually reached pass tnat
business men think and speak OF
politics az something quite outside their inter
est and duty. which, If not actually disrepu-
table, may well be LETT TO those who have q taste
for IT. The ex- president sought TO remind his
hearers of the interest which all OF us have a.
members of our American body polite in
wholesome general laws and honest administra-
ton. In order that the patriotism and intelli.
gence OF the country should prevail in our leg.
islation the patriotic and intelligent men OF the
country must see to IL that they are properly
represented in our national councils.
Mr.. Cleveland said IL seemed TO him that pri-
vate and special legislation, it at present pre-
walls, is an evil, chargeable TO great extent to
the Iistlessness and carelesgness of the people
The people have right TO claim from their rep
resentatives their best care and attention to the
great objects of legislation in which the entire
their representatives take their seats burdened
with private bills in which their immediate
neighbors are exclusively interested and
which they feel they must 10 diligent in advanc-
ing If they would secure their continuance in
public llfe They are led By the exigencies Of
their situation, as they view ii, not only to the
support Of private bills of questionable propri-
ETY., but to the neglect of important questions
involved in general legislation. Furthermore,
the importance of successful champion
ship of these private bills seems SO
vital to them that they are easily
led TO barter their votes for measures az bad or
worse than theirs. and thus Is inaugurated the
system called lobbying, which comes frightfully
near actual corruption, and the people at large
lose not only attention TO their affairs, but are
often no better than robbed Of money in the
public treasury.
Another and more pernicious aspect of special
and private legislation is the habit il engenders
among our people of looking toward the govern
ment for aid in the accomplishment of special
and individual schemes, and the expectation
which 1t creates that legislation may be invoked
for the securing of individual advantages and
unearned benefits.
No thoughtful American should shut his eyes
10 the truth that when our people regard the
government as q source OF individual benefit
and favoritism our popular government is in
dangerous hands and its entire perverson 10
alarmingly imminent These perils are not
alone chargeable to confessedly private and
special legislation. Measures OF general char
acter. apparently proposed for the public
good, frequently originate in selfish calculation,
and neither the cry of protection to American
interests nor pretended soiicitude for the public
good ought to succeed in concealing schemes to
favor the few at the expense of the many, nor
should the Importance to the country OF legisla-
tive action upon any subject divert as from
inquiry concerning selfish motives and pur-
poses which may be hidden behind the proposal
OF such legislation. 1t Ia quite time that our
business men and all American citizens who
love their country should bestir themselves for
battle against the evil tendencies of private
and special legislation, whatever guise it may
assume.