The National tribune., 1899-08-24


THE THIRD HOUSE OF CONGRESS-.
The word lobbyist" is quite as familiar
over the whole extent of this land as 1t Is
in Washington, and a name not unknown
in London. Why should it not be familiar!
Every city with want every corporation
with a scheme, every individual who has
designs upon the Government send their
Envoys Plenipotentiary to the Third Con-
gress. Even England does not hesitate to
take the advantage gained by now and then
sending her member into this Third House.
When freetrade would help her, she does
not close her eyes to the opportunity TO
press her want, and she has unscrupu-
lously worked various and sundry means
20 gain her point-sometimes out OF Con-
gress; sometimes within the holy precinct.
The lobbies at the Capitol are long, i'm
posing, well-lighted corridors that COM
pletely inclose both halls of Congress-the
House and the Senate. Into these lobbles
the people go who have business or some
object on the floor of Congress, but no right
there.
Doorkeepers are in attendance to carry
cards to members or Senators, and In
these corridors the members OF the Ihird
House hold their sessions and make their
wants and wishes known. Many mem
bers of this house have legitimate busi-
ness. An intelligent understanding oil a
bill to come before Congress and its merits
are forcefully presented. and the work OF
Congress is often facilitated thereby; but
tI-.io of nrnfpSSlOnll
LOBBYIST is not done in the lobbieS. Many
of these professionals are women, and
know of no name that carries with 1t so
much that is Objectionable as profes-
sional woman lobbyist; they are of various
grades and conditions.
Visitors TO the Capitol have many times
had pointed out 10 them woman whose
beautiful presence seemed at variance with
the many anxious, angular women around
her; serene satisfaction of conscious beauty
rests on every feature of her face. She is
enveloped by an atmosphere of self-satis-
faction. Her bonnet is the last Partisan
triumph-long dropping plumes dance
and bow with every motion of the head;
velvet draperies, lace finishings, Jeweled
settings adorn the graceful form. SHE
is the Queen OF the Lobby"
She drives TO the Capitol in gaily-
caparisoned outfit. In honeyed accents
she drops the word, and the interview Is
arranged which promises the vote that
carries the bill, that brings the spoils to
her own pocket, and swells the bank ac-
count of her clients. She glides from cor
ridor to ante-room, not infrequenting the
committee rooms. She is conspicuous as
she is beautiful. She is one of a class of
lobbyists. Her deal is for large stakes,
and she always wins. When she has play
ed her last card she enters her carriage,
and glides quickly away to make herself
ready for the guests she has invited to dine
with her.
The people little know that gastronomy
has become fine art in the hand OF the
lobbyists, and have wondered if they took
their first lessons from an Englishman.
Some years ago 1 came across the diary
OF Lawrence Oliphant, who was Secretary
to Lord Elgin when he came to Washington
to ratify the reciprocity treaty with Canada.
Sir Philip Champion was British Minister.
He entertained royalty, and many splcn.
did dinner showed the Italian hand Of the
cautious diplomat in the social menu. The
Secretary says:
sAfter we had received the hospitality
of Washington about 10 days, Lord ElgiI
announced to Mr.. Marcy, the Secretary oi
State, that if the Government was pre-
pared to adhere to their promise to conclude
treaty Of reciprocity with Canada ht
could assure the President that he would
find a majority Of the Senate in its favor
including several prominent Democrats.
"a thorny question was intimately asso
ciated with the discussion of this treaty
which was settled by it for the time, and
this was the question of the fisheries off the
coast of British North America claimed
by American fishermen.
Meantime, to my inexperienced mind
no progress was being made in our mission
Lord Elgin had announced its object on hi.
arrival to the President and Secretary O
State, and had been informed by them tina
it was quite hopeless to think any sucl
treaty could be carried through with tn
oppoSition which existed toward it on tn
part Of the Democrats, who had ma joritI
IN the Senate, without which no treat,