The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1895-05-04

general assembly to take possession Of tbs
whole field Of appropriations: Would the lin
tied authority conferred by the call to appro-
pirate mcGey to pay the expenses OF this ses-
sion authorize al appropriation to constructs
public building O. for any other purpose? lido
not believe that the contention referred to u
well founded. Who makes this contenttonf
Who desires 9 larger field TO work in? Who II
especially solic:touS 20 embrace every master
and servant: Other employers are not knock
ing for admission or clamoring TO be taken In
Other servants, although willing to share in
the benefits Of such u law. have. through their
industrial organizations, expressed an I'M
willingness to interfere in the consideration
and passage Of the measure specially submit
ted
Who, then. are the ardent advocates OF OPEN
ing the door to all employments? So far as I
have observed. this contention has proceeded
from railroad circles. At all events, what
ever else may incline TO favor . gen
erai law" the agents and lawyers Of
the railroads are the special advocates OF
that policy. But how does the inclusion
Of other servants and masters in . bill or law
benefit the railroad corporations? What prac-
teal difference does it make to them; Do rail-
road attorneys make this contention as philan-
thropIsts In the interest Of humanity, or in the
hope that By ~eniisting q multitude Of opposing
interests they viii be the better able TO defea
all legislation Is not this movement merely
an exploit for recruits? But some have said
that to conine the operation Of q So-called
fellow-SerV&uts' bill. to railroad corporations
and their employees is class legislation Might
not the same thing be said with equal
force concerning the laws enacted in the
interest Of miners? Of the law for factory in
sDection: Of the law giving preferred liens 70
mechanics, landlords, etc, or the Law pro-
yiding that no property shall be exempt from
execution for wages due a house servant or
common laborer: Are not the statutes replete
with so-called "class legislation" Why
should there be any especial Sensitiveness on
hat ubject at this particular Iuncture:
Railroads, as I have said. are semipublic
corporations. In this respect they are Diff
ferent from almost all other corporations
They are clothed by law with peculiar and
extraordinary powers, rights and privileges
They are employed in the public business,
and deal daily with the people Of the state
There are strong reasons, founded in pub
lie policy, aside from any abstract question Of
right, why the servants Of such corporations
should receive the recognition they ask. These
reasons have Influenced legislative thought in
England and in many American states, where
laws Of this kind specially applicable 10 rail-
way employees have been enacted. In my opin-
ion the various objections urged against the
proposed legislation are wholly untenable. So
firmly am 1 Of this opinion. that I am unwill-
ingto believe that a Missouri general assem-
bly, will refuse TO pass q liberal law on the
lines pTOpOStu. WucuO opportunity Is gwen IOL .
fair consideration Of the subject
III.
I ask the general assembly to enact a law to
sustain, and, il possible, to suppress the prac-
tice Of lobbying, which has grown into an
alarming evil at the capital. Il has come to
pass that certain railroads maintain an
organized lobby at the state capital during the
sessions Of the general assembly. This prac-
tice has prevailed for a number OF years. It Is
maintained nSta0Sihlv for the nTrnOSa Of tap-0-
tecting" the interests Of railroads against the
assaults Of the peoples representatives.
In the prosecution OF this service the lobby
agents OF these corporations have assumed
that every measure which looks TO the regula-
ton or control OF railroads. or by which they
are affected, is an attack" upon them. This
is an insult to the people of the state. for it as
sumes that they are viciouSly disposed, and
that they are Incapable OF administering or
unwilling TO administer, public affairs in the
spiri. OF right. honor and justice, and that it is
necessary for the railroads 10 resort to extra
ordinary ageucie>t to protect themselves against
the hostility Of the very sovereignty which
eseated them.
Because Tie people OF the state do now and
them deem il wise and provident to enact
some law to prevent abuses, and for the bet
ter government of such corporations. they
are regarded as enemies. and every proposal
to enact such a law is resented as . declara-
ton Of war. And so to protect themselves
against the people who created and support
them, the corporations organize a band Of
crafty diplomats" q coterie OF skillful ma
nipuiators in the art Of lobbying, and maintain
them at the capital OF the state. These cor
porate agents employed to influence public Of
fcials. have grown in numbers and audacity
until they have become a positive nuisance, a
menace and q disgrace TO the state.
Not only do they interfere in legisla-
ton which refers exclusively to rail-
roads, but they do not hesitate to thrust
themselves oficiously into important measures
which relate wholly to other subjects. The
bad and ong-continued example OF the railroad
lobby has become infectious. Others have
fallen under its pernicious influence. until now
the agents Of more than one special interest
are kept at the capital to protect" their en-
ployes against the representatives Of the peo-
pie. About the streets and hotels they are
ubiquitous; they swarm in the corrido rs of the
capitol; they frequent committee rooms and
public Offices. and are almost as familiar to the
halls Of legislation as those entitled to seats
by virtue Of their commissions.
This practice is cemo-aIizing in III e extreme,
IL nothing more, and every consideration Of
honor. Gecency and good government requires
that it should be stopped. The railroads them
selves should be the first to put an end to this
miserable practice OF organized. professional
lobbying. which they inaugurated, and for the
growth and continuance of which they are
CnleHy responsible i protest tl1t lheT should
not persist in a practice that brings only re-
proach upon the state. The people are not
hostile TO railroads, but quite the contrary.
Whatever prejudice may exist is chiefly the re-
suit OF iniudiciOus policies adopted and per-
sisted in by the roads themselves. Railroads
are necessary to the well-being Of the state.
They are great enterprises, requiring large in
vestments OF capital, and in the successful
operation Of which the highest intelligence and
the most exacting attention are demanded.
Any causeless prejudice against them is stupid
and contemplate; any unreasonable hostility
toward them would be the height OF folly.
II railroads VIII simply attend to their legit-
innate business and do r'C1t, l have the utmost
confidence in the belief that they would
have nothing to fear. 1t seems clear to me
that the interests of these great corpora
tons can be best promoted by methods that
tend to elevate, not TO lower, the
standard Of public administration They
ought to be the very last TO introduce practices
that exercise a corrupting or demoralizing in
fuence on public affairs But in any event. the
arrogance Of the lobby should be restrained by
putting some severe check upon its constant
impairment Interference in legislation.
The right Of any citizen TO be heard in a
proper way before a N Of the legis-
lature. or before any executive of1cer or body.
Is one that can not and ought not to be denied
A fair and Intelligent presentation Of
the views Of those interests az stake.
so far from being forbidden. should
be invited But a band OF lobbyists. organized
and maintained as a permanent institution. 20
hang about public offceS and the halls OF leg
: II Ffan NTH The cola ahTCnN IT TuFarFn-fnn