The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-04-22
OF LOBBYING.

The effort to regulate lobbying has
rarely proved successful. Some years
ago a bill in the Legislature of this
State looked to the organization of the
lobby and its recognition under certain
rules and restrictions. At the time the
Record Union" was disposed to favor
some such measure, and it has not
heard any reason advanced that
changes its opinion.
In New York the law recognizes the
lobby as a necessary and useful agency,
but one that needs regulation 1t puts
the professional lobbyist on the level
with the professional advocate at the
bar in one respect. The law requires
that the houses of legislation shall open
a lobby docket. In this docket must
be entered the names and addresses of
all persons who engage in advocacy of
or opposition to bills and resolutions
These advocates are thereupon author
lied to engage in the business just as
is an attorney to rent out his services
to prosecute a cause or defend a client
which is to say that he may use all
lawful means to protect the interests
of his client, or to promote them.
Under the New York law the lobby
ist who is docketed cannot work for a
contingent fee and he must confine his
work to argument and marshaling of
testimony before committees, and to
doing work properly incident thereto -
This latter clause be it noted, is a wide
open door that permits the lobbyist to
to talk with the legislator as an indi-
vidual and convince him if he can of
the justice or injustice of measures.
The lobbyist may also give proper legal
advice concerning any measure before
either house, or that it is proposed shall
be introduced. A penalty is provided
for infringement of this law, and for
dishonorable conduct, namely, disbar-
ment, and one who has been disbarred
from acting as alegislative agent can
not again get upon the docket for three
years. 1t is also provided that a fine
of from 800 to 81 900 may be imposed.
with the alternative of Imprisonment.
Missouri has also just passed an Act
regulating the lobby In that State
there is provided a minimum fine of
5000 and Imprisonment of from one to
five years for violation of the regula-
lions. In both States the unprofes-
SiOna1 lObbxyist ic ,aooo,pf,aa ~ 49, a.
laration that visiting delegations may
appear before legislative committees
and be heard.
From the information before us there
is no mention of recognition of the
right Of the citizen to appear in his
own behalf before a committee or to
present his views relative to bills to the
individual legislators, and that right is
not probably assailed. For there are
many cases in which there can be no
visiting delegation; cases where the
individual in defense of a personal in
terest assailed by proposed legislation.
elther with purpose, through ignorance
OF the facts, or through inadvertence.
is moved to come up to the Legislature
and urge that he be protected. So. too.
a citizen may have a scheme in every
way commendable. and that IS in the
interest of community good, one that
ought to be legislated upon. and which
he alone can explain and best advocate.
Again philanthropic. humanitarian and
scientific matters emanating from pure
motives, it must be conceded are prop
erly to be presented by the man or wo-
man who is foremost in promoting the
good measure.
1t must be admitted that this conces-
sion of necessity carries with it the
right of the man who has a bad or an
unwise measure TO advance to come up
to the Legislature and urge members
in his individual character to aid him.
But this cannot be provided against,
for we cannot conceive of free govern
ment with the right of the citizen clos
ed against him to address the legisla-
tor in advocacy of or against any