Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-04-11
THE RIGHT OF PETITION,
How It Was Abused by a Gov ernment Clerk
He Styled Himself tho waGewOrkers' Political Alliance and Flooded the
 Congregational Mall Box with Cranky Documents.
tspcmaI Washington Letter.1

lSpcelal washington Letter.
 One of the most peculiar freaks ever known in the capitol during a session of congress was developed here when the Fifty-sccond congress was young.
 Of course you know that John Quincy Adams, as n member of the house of representatives, long after he had been president of the United States, was the leader in the debate which forever set tied ''the right of petition" by the peo- pie of this republic. That right is not only exercised very freely, but it is also abused. Not only do the people send genuine petitions to congress, but lobbyists interested in legislation have petitions printed, leaving blanks for signatures, and send them broadcast over the land. These machine pc titions" are signed by persons who know little and care less about the sub ject matter contained in them. They are all forwarded to the Washington attorneys, and by them handed to mcm- bers of congress, either of the senate or house. These alleged petitions are dropped into q receptacle called ''pe- tition box" and tho regular clerical employees send them to the proper com mittees. The people have "thc right of petition" but their petitions have al- most no weight whatever with the gentlemen who lcgislate for the nation.
 We'll, during the early days of the last congress there were petitions ga lore upon all manner of subjects from the "Wagcworkcrs' Political Ali ance." The alliance first made itself known by thc introduction of numerous bills and the presentation of woroly pc titiOns to both houses of congress. Prominent statesmen received numer- ous communications, signed only by this remarkable body, and most of tho bills and memorials which accompanied these cpistlcs were introduced. Not a few of them, though, wcro thrown aside, notwithstanding the fact that they bore the seal Of this great politico- labor engine, by whose mysterouS force the world was to be reformed in an or iginal and highly satisfactory manner That some of the bills were introduced is due to the fact that they were less ec- centric than those which found a rest ing place in the waste basket.
 Just when the alliance commenced its task of vicarious legislation is not a matter of much moment, but it was early in the first session of the present congress. To a close observer it must have been evident that neither senators or representatives paid any attention to the erudition which was being dis played, and after awhile the alliance became aware of the sluggish circula- tion its alleged ideas were having. Then the alliance caused bill to be intro duced authorizing and instructing the public printer t O publish daily Sundays eXccpted) periodical which should be known as "The Congressional Petition Box," the same to bo for gratuitous dis tribution to all applicants.
 Further provision was made for the creation of an oftice-cditoY of ''The Congressional Petition BoX"-thc sal ary to be four dollars per day. The duty of the editor would be the Ear ranging, classification, condensation and publication of all petitions, me- morials, bills, resolutions and other re- spectfully worded communications" ;" which he might receive from any citi- zen of this republic when such peti- tions, etc, were addressed either to congress, to the supreme court or the presidents; provided" says the bill, that said communications shall clear Iy show that something is wanted by some citizen of this republic and that the person who wants that something can be found usually at the place stated