New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-12-14
THE LEGISLATIVE LOBBY.

One of the subjects that might proftaby oc
cupy the attention of the Legislature which
meets at Albany next month is the scandal of
permanent and powerful legislative lobby
That there is such body Is notorious The
names and faces of the men who comprise 1t
are familiar TO Senators and AsSembymen and
everybody else who has business at the Capitol
during the session. That they are there to OK
act toll on all legislation and levy blackmail on
individuals and corporations interested in the
passage or the defeat of particular measures is
well known They hover like harpies around
the doors Of the Capitol; they infcst its corridors
and Hobbies: they thrust themselves into the
department offices: they bore members with their
Establishments tease them with their threats:
they haunt committee rooms by day ana loaf in
hotel barrooms at night. and are everywhere
and all the time continuing of scan
dial and a pcstferous nuisance. Senators and
Assemblymen know them. know their business
their reputation and their shady methods. YET
they associate with them on familiar terms per
NIT themselves TO be seen in their company in
public. and not rarely take the risks Of appear
ing to he even in confidential relations with
them And the people have become so hard
ened to the spectacle that they look on. if not
with complacncy. at least without any sign Of
protest or show of Indignation.
These men have no legitimate business at the
Capitol. They are not practising attorneys; they
are not engaged In the discharge of any profess
slonal duties. They have had neither legal ex-
pericnce nor training to tit them to act as cOun-
sellers or advisers in the making of laws In
this respect they are worse than the lowest
grade of TOmbs shysters. who are at least NOM
.inally lawyers and members Of the bar There
Is but one Interpretation to he put upon their
presence and their pernicOus activity at Al
bany during the session. and that is that they
are there as corrupt Intermediates for buying
and selling legislation. Most of them are Of the
politician class; men who make politics bust
ness all the year round. and whose management
Of caucuscs. primaries and conventions is sup
posed to give them certain influence with Sena
tors and Assemblymen whom they have as
sisted To nominate or elect In their own par
lance they have pull with members For
exercising this pull individuals and corpora
tons seeking to secure favorable or defeat I'M
favorable legislation are willing-mOre shame
to then,-to pay literally. 1t Is not considered
bribery when dlsreputable lobbyist Is employed
to convince the Senator or Assemblyman who
owes his election TO the lobbyist so long as the
legislator himself Is not directly paid. But
what else Is II? The legislator pays with his
vote for the lobbyists services while the latter
sells this vote in open market for cash In hand
With the increase Of great corporations and
the constantly increasing necessity for add-
tlonal legislation In their behalf, or for defeating
STRIKES" adverse to their interests the lobby
evil has grown to enormous proportions. No
corporation pretends to approach the Legis-
hture without reckoning with 1t. For the lobby
rules the Legislature. The professional polti-
clans who constitute II have usually taken care
% have enough of their own creatures In either
tifanch to be able to influence legislative action