Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1894-02-15
Two other Southern Pacific lobbyists
were a well-known Texan and an
equally well-known Tennesseean. ("

were q weli-kn0wn Texan and an
equally well-known Tennesseean.
"The open work of the Texas
Pacific lobby went on for months,
and the secret operation Of the
Southern Pacific lobby kept pace
with it. One day the surprise was
sprung The Texas Pacific people
were notified of the information
which the Southern Pacific people
had collected. Some extracts from
the record kept in the lobby head
quarters we're exhibited. A CON-
plete exposure was threatened un-
less the Texas Pacific people con-
sented that the Southern Pacific
should share equally in all benefits
of the proposed legislation. The
demand was outrageous. On one
side there had been an expenditure
of tens Of thousands Of dollars to
pave the way for the bill. On the
other hand there had been trifling
matter of few hundreds of dollars
spent in watching the movements
Of the people who had done the hard
work. But what could be said ?
The country had not forgotten the
Credit Mobilier scandal. There
was a good deal of sensitivepess in
the public mind about subsidies
and land grants. The Texas Paci.
fic people were forced to yield.
They agreed to take the Southern
Pacific people in on the deal.
"The man who managed this fine
piece of work for the Southern Pa
cific got life job by it. He had
come to Washington as contrac-
tor when the Wholesale improve
ments of the city were under way
and had developed fine talent as
lobbyist. After he had spoiled the
Tom Scott scheme he was put On a
regular salary of $4,000 year, and
received it until he died. An en-
ploye of the House lost his place
through the assistance he gave the
Southern Pacific people. He was a
man who was assigned to some duty
on the floor of the House near the
Speakers desk. From that posi-
tion he was able to furnish yalua-
BILE information, and it is also said
that he passed lobbyists into the
House so that they could communi-
cate with members. There was a
scandal about it. The man was
dismissed by the Doorkeeper, very
strict old gentleman from New Jer-
sey, named Buxton. AS soon as he
left Government service he was put
on the lobby payroll at $4,000 a
year and left there for many years,
his salary being doubled after a
time. No man who loses his situ-
alton through serving me shall 90
begging was what the railroad
magnate said, and he put him in
in the company's legislative ex-
pense account.
"That fight between the two lob
bies made things very lively" the
old-timer went on. "But no in
vestigation ever came of it. In the
next Congress man named Baker,
of Indiana, made use of the scan.
dal to get more stringent rules
adopted in regard to admission to
the floor of the House. Up to that
time it was no uncommon thing tc
see prominent and influential per.
sons on the floor while the House
was in session. The fight of the
two lobbies, however, became so hot
that through bribery and fayorit.
ism the workers were passed in and
could be seen while the House wai
in session consulting with members,
Bakers campaign was victorious.
He got through the rule which al
lowed only members, ex-members.
Senators and persons who had re.
ceived the thanks of Congress ad
mission to the floor while the House
was in session. And the rule has
been enforced ever SINCE"
Hiring employees of the Senate
and House is a favorite method oi
the lobby. When the distribution
of 5000, 900 of Pacific Mail money
by Agent Irwin was investigated.
it was found that an assistant door.
keeper had received s4500 and 9
messenger had been paid 81, 900.
The assistant doorkeeper in explain.
ing his share in the transaction
said j:
"The first acquaintance ! had
with Mr.. Irwin was this. me;