The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-10
THE THIRD HOUSE.
The Use and the Abuse OF the Legis-
Iative b

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
That Chairman Hernly is a boss manager
of a campaign every conscientious Demo-
crat admits and no sensible Republican de-
| nies; and when, the other day, he proposed
to appoint a commission to revise our
bungling election laws / wrote him down in
my book of remembrance as a safe and
wise manager of post-election affairs; but
when, a few days later, he proposed to re-
| quire every lobbyist to wear some fantastic
| distinguishing garb I took my Endorsement
all back. Does he propose to so dress
Judge Martindale and the other distin-
guished members of his election law lobby?
I trow not. And why not? Evidently be-
cause a lobby is an indispensable attach
ment to the Legislature under our present
Constitution. In a neutrality-suspicious.
bit of economy we require 80 men, most of
whom are strangers TO each other end
| strangers to legislation, to post the books
| for two and a half million of people and
| provide laws for their government in less
| than thirty-six days of actual work once
in two years. 1t cannot be done unless bills
for the most important measures are pre-
pared by outsiders, just such as Mr.. Hernly
L mas requested lis lODDN 10 prepare LOT
| amending our bunglesome election law.
As a historic fact Ii is true that almost
IL not quite all important measures for the
last fifty years have been prepared and
promoted by a lobby, because there is not
time in six weeks for the Legislature to
prepare and mature the necessary bills.
Some of these have been beneficial. but
many Of them have been mischievous, be-
ing IN most cases mere patchwork in the in
terest of the lobbyist. See what a muddle
OF contradictions and open doors to frauds
our county and township system had be-
come under the manipulations of interested
lobbiesi This was corrected only through
a lobby representing the peoples interests.
No Legislature could possibly have pre-
pared and passed such a bill in six weeks;
meanwhile the financial loss to the people
through the system which had grown up
under interested Hobbies would have kept
a competent Legislature in session six
months every two years, and the abuses
would never have occurred. Or take our
fee and salary laws. For fifty years they
have been tempered with under the manip-
~ulations of Hobbies composed of office
holders, fees and salaries growing more
oppressive every time, until in sheer des-
peratiOn. four years ago, the Legislature
cut loose from the oficeholders' lobby and
launched a scheme which was no relief 10
the people. and so oppressive TO officers
that the last Legislature created a lobby
to take time TO prepare a bill that shall re-
lieve the people and not be needlessly op-
pressive upon ofiiceholders, thus recognize
ing the lobby as Indispensable to safe and
wise legislation. and all for want of time TO
mature a proper fee and salar, bill in six
weeks. Ought this lobby be brought into
contempt by some fantastic unfforms2
The financial burdens which the iniquitous
fees and salaries OF former years inflicted
Upon the people would alone have kept a
legislature in session six months, once in
W years. Whether the bill this lobby
shall propose VII withstand the offlcehold.
ers' lobby or n.t remains TO be seen.
Or take the university lobby. the most
cultured and most successful lobby that
ever worked a legislature. Thirty-four
years ago IL adroitly introduced a bill only
"A few days before the adjournment of the
Legislature, when 1t could not be dis
cussed. ard pushed II through under sus-
! pension OF the rules in both houses. ask