Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-04
ANOTHER REFORM.


Iris reported that the Massachusetts
an,l.lobyist law that has Just had IT,
firs, years trial gives promise Of sue
cess. The law sid not assume to shut
down the gates i the legislature against
the lobby fraternity, but simply tn
draw the screen from their operations
aud compel them as far rs possible TO
conduct their 'lnhlence" business In
such manner that tho public might
know what they were abouL
The law requires that all persons on
gagged rs counsel before committees,
aud all agents having business With
tho Legislature, affecting corpora
tlons or individuals, shall regis
ter their names In book kept
Tor the purpose by the Ssrgeaut.at.
arms. A record must likewise b. taken
ofthe nams o. the company or person
represented aud the character Of tho
legislation With which tho agent Z.
concerned. Moreover, within thirty
days after adjournment the agent
otherwise tho lobbyist, Is required 10
render a full account Of all the ex'
penses incurred by him In the business
defined In The entry.
Unregistered lobbyists are not
allowed to appear before committees or
to conduct any legislative business
durlng the session. For oacn Viola.
ton of the law the asen, aud party ro-
presented are liable tpa fine Of $1,000
aud the agent Is forever debarrcd from
carrying on nj. lobby business.
This l. the fist 70 rilar assault upon
Lobbyists, AMI u clI,ie doe, not com.
pass all the ways by which they may
carry on their neiarious Transactions.
No law can accomplish this, save one
that keeps the legislators under per.
petual guard, day aud night, like a
company Of conyicts, from the opening
TO the closing of the session.
But II sivea n publicity to tho pres
cnceo " lobbyists Ia the legislative halls
aud TO their operations generally, which
seems, on the first trial ut least, TO
have had the effect not only OF reg
ulRtlng the transactions Of those hav.
Ing regular business, but Of Kidding the
State capitol OF the gangs Of loaicrs
who hang round the halls to pick up odd
Jobs which the niger toned gentry OF
the lobby refuse TO handle.
The country Is under obligation TO
Massachusetts for leading out In this
necessary reform. There il not the
slightest doubt that the lobby con.
tlngcnt at the capital has cost thi.
nation more durlng tho past thirty
years than the entire legitimate ex.
pcnscs Of Congress. Aud what the
lobby industery Ia general has cost the
people through the irregular legislation
enacted under IT, influence cannot bC
even guessed at.
Let lobbyism and partisan corrup.
ton progress at It, presant rate OF
advance Tor another twenty-five years
anI what Of tho legislative powers will
escape the control Of blaeklegs will not
be worth looking after.
But wo arc grateful to observe that
In nearly Nil Of the hot.bcis OF corrup.
ton there arc very substantial signs oi
reform. There Is u mighty mora
uniorcurrent at work which We think
can be relied upon In It, own time tC
set things right. We have always be.
lIeyed that the stability OF this republic
was due more 10 tho invincible In
tegrlty Of tho producers and the char
acter.makers out OF oiilco, than to The
craftsmanship or patriotism OF thos'
who got the pay for running the gov
ornamental business. The scattering
and general demolition that within I
year nave been effected among tn
revenue politicians oi both parties 10
testimony Of this fact.