New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-30
LEGISLJTITE LOBBIES.

We have no expectation that the Constim-
,ionol Convention will undertake by radical
changes in the organic law 10 accomplish Mt
once any great political reform. We do expect
that II will give serious consideration 10 certain
grave and growing abuses and Will cndcavor
so far as 1t can consistently, within It's proper
limitations and the scope of It's legitimate func-
tons, TO correct or mitigate them. One OF these
abuses. which has already attained In all the
State capitals and ut Washington the most
alarming proportions. is the lobby. II Is the
most fruitful of all the sources Of political cor
rnption. 1t has dcmoralizcd both parties TO an
extent that the average citizen. unfamiliar WIN
tbe machinery of politics and the inrigucs, bar
gains and deals OF managing politicians, ht'lc
dreams Of 1t IS only vaguely known. though
the fact Is Of public nOtorcty, that during every
session of the Legislature ut Albany the hot'lS
and Hobbies swarm with political h"elers ana
hanCerson who, having secured by partisan
activity an appearance mt least OF political IN
aucncc are ready 10 sell their services 10 any
eno who has an interest either In securing or
defeating pending legislation. 1t Is notorious
that these fellows band together 10 Introduce
hills known as STRIKES" by which they l&ch
mail individuals and corporations. and that III
some years they have audacouSly set them
selves al the doors Of the Capitol and demanded
"tolr for almost every measure public or pr
vote which they permitted the Legislature 10
mass The great mass Of voters. not being per
sonally affected have taken lttlc interest IN the
matter and the abuse has accordingly been IN
crcasIng year after year
The methods Of indircctlon by which ms
nefarious business l. carried on are lhhhi'eN
vorous and even when traced are under exist
ing laws almost Impossible 10 arrest or punish.
That bribery f. a common fundamentally with
the lobby il well known: and yet direct bribery
IN a form In which money payment can De
traced IS believed e. be rare The method III
most frequent Use for corrupty innurhchs
members is through the employment ia Inc
Lobby Of the State or county or warl commit
tceman most influential in procuring mem
ber's nomination or election. In this ease ih"
members vote is bought and sold. though d"
gets no money and apparently derives ii" al
vantage from the transaction. The l"glslaNN"
| cl,ent sIIuply buys ~ the committeeman the
vo,a ,hc member cnsts The committeeman
GUMS the member and hls vote by virtue 81
having secured his nomination ana election
The lobby is always full Of this sort 81 active
| politicians whose Influence" & always for ~ 20.
Tho bribery is patent and almost Shameless
hut so long as such creatures are permitted 70
nlv their vocation there Is 10 help for H. IL
may he = hard thing 10 say. hut 1t Is ncvcrthc-
less believed to he true that not single bill has
been passed at Albany FOR many years IN when
onv individual or corporation had a dollars IN
forest that has not been made 10 pay tribute 10
| the thieves who infcst the lobby
Tho evil exists I'm every State. In MaSSachu-
sotts n few years ago n law was passed on the
subject which required the registration of every
| ono cnrnlovod 10 influence the action Of the
Legislature and provided certain restrictions
unon them In Connecticut the agitation Of the
question. which was begun few months ago
Inv .The New Iavcn Register" has awakened
such general interest that 1t bids fair 10 have
considerable influence upon the nominations OF
both nartcs At Washington the shady per-
formonccs OF the irresponsible Butte OF Buttz-
Vile have called attention to the fact that any
disrcnutoble person may upon his own motion.
without being employed. attach himself To the
| lobby and experiment with ease and lmpuhity
upon the virtue OF Senators and members OF
Congress His plan of operations was evident
" the old one OF finding out how II Senator
| or Congressman intended to vote on given
| o,estion and trading on the Information by
nronosinp TO parties interested 10 secure the
vote for n consideration. Nowhere Is the LOBBY
abuse more fragrant. nowhere Is the lobby more
numerous more active, more audacious or more
dangerous than in this State The subject de-
serves. and we hope will receive the most scri'
Gus consid Grafton Of the constitutional Conyen-
ton. The remedy should not be left to the I'M
ccrtalnties Of statute law, but should be- placed
beyond the possibility Of legislative fumbiinS
| In the fundamental law.