New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-25
MR. ROEHR As 4 RETORNER.
ONE Bill. TO REGULATE LOBBYING AND ANOTHER
TO PREVENT CORPORATIONS FROM MAX
ING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

TO PREVENT CORPORATIONS FROM MAX
ING POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Albany. Feb q (SpeciaD -Asscmbyman Roehr
Of brooklyn. wants Ncw-York State TO adopt the
anti-lobbying laws of Massachusetts. and this morn
ing introduced a bill which Is copy of the Massa-
chusetts statute. He said OF the bill Il have pre-
scented IT because desire to pose reform
er. but in good faith, / believe the working OF
the law in Massachusetts justihcs its Introduction
here. The Massachusetts law was enacted In 1890
and J am crcdiby informed that it has done much
70 purify legislation in that State There Is moth
ing stringent In the measure, and nothing which
the great corporations which find II necessary to en-
ploy legislative counsel or legislative agents should
object to-"
The bill provides that all persons or corporations
employing counsel or agents to promote or prevent
legislation shall cause the name OF such legisl1-
tive representative to be entered upon legislative
dockcts kept for the purpose. The clerk Of each
house IS To provide two books. one TO be known
as the docket of legislative counsel and the other
as the docket Of legislative agcnts. In these dock
cts are to be entered the name and business ad-
dress of the employer Of such agent or counsel and
the special subject of legislation upon which he Is
employed There must also be filed with the clerk.
within ten days OF making the entry, thc aihddvit
of the employer. that such agent or counsel Is in
his employ and for how long the employment Is
10 continue No agent or counsel Is TO 10 Flowed
TO appear before a committee or otherwise In the
interest of or in opposition to any legislation unless
H. Is rctE,rrra ln nroId rules rrrniating the
employment Of legislative counsel or agents and
for disbarring any agent or counseI VINO do"s not
conform these rules.
Within thirty days Of the adjournment OF the
LcpisIafure every person corporation that has
emnloyed such agent or cOun sel shall render u
the State Controller a compl ,te ana detailed state,
nont of all expenses incurred by agents or counsel
in promoting or opposing any legislation; penalty
for the violation OF these prov isiOns l. pro-
vidcd II is "a fine of not less than 500 nor more
Than 81 90 II is made the duty Of the Attorney
General To bring prosecutions for the violations OF
the act Counsel for municipalities are exempted
fr )m the provisions of the measure"
ROchr also presented a bill 10 prevent JOINT
stock corporationf associations from contribut
ing TO the campaign funds of political parties. II
nr1yidcs that il shall not be lawful for any cor
uoration Joint stock company. either directly or
Indirectly by any officer, agent, employe or any
ofhrr person 10 pay contribute any money or
other valuable thing To or for any political party,
organization committee or other person repre-
snnting the same and that on the first day OF
JuIv OF every all corporations and joint stock
associations shall file with the Controller OF the
state a afidaVit. sworn to by the president or
troas said corporation. declaring that no
such contribution made during the year pre-
ceding A penalty Of not less than 800 nor more
than 500 and imprisonment for not less than three
months more than one year Is provided Tor
violation Of the act