The Press., 1901-12-26
Washington Letter.
Washington, December g, 1901.


 congres adjourned for the holiday recess. Many of the members wore sprigs of nelly in their buttonholes and some of the more vaiorous had intertwined with the holly bits of mfstletoe In the senate and house restaurants large bowls of egg-nog added to the atmosphere of Christmas cheer ,and on the desk of Senator Frye was large wreath of holly and evergreen.
 It was with 8 feeling of material satls- faction that congress took its holiday re- cess this year, for an exceptional amount of work had been accomplished and pre- parations had been made for the prompt consideration of many measures on 1e- convening. On Wednesday afternoon he Philippine tariff bill was passed by fhe house. On Monday the senate had 'rati- fed the -Pauncefote treaty; in 1he house Representative Hepburn's Nicafa- guan canal bill:s had been reported. and January 7th, the day after congress will reassemble, had been fixed upon for its consideration. It will come up on that day but will probably be under considefa- tion for at least week before 1t is finally passed.
 Senator Morgan's bill for the same ppr- pose had been reported favorably by the committee on interoceanic canals and VIII be taken up on the floor of the senate soon after the holidays, although 1t may have to give place, for day or two, to the Philippine tariff bill which will come up from the house, and the passage of which the administration is most anxious to see accelerated. Already there are gathering in Washington men who expect to secure contracts on the canal and hope for a liberal share of the $1SO, 1000, 900 which the canal will cost.
 I noticed about the corridors some of the gentlemen who are interested in beet sugar and who are said to be in Washing ton for the purpose of preventing legisia- mark cts of the United States at less than the present duty. I asked venerable senator how lobbyists worked. Contrary to popular suppositlon," he said, "a clever lobbyist does not offer bribes. That is a crude and almost useless method of pro- cedure in Washington. venture to say that. the most liberal offers of money could not obtain ten votes in congress. ,
 "The three most powerful weapons of the lobbyists are ridicule, 'trades' and in fuehce. The man who works through influence works outside of the capitol and generally outside of Washington. He, through personal popularity or in other ways, secures the friendship of men prominent in various parts of the countryy men who can influence votes. These a&eb are persuaded of the desirability of the measure which the lobbyist desires, and they write to their congressman urging its passage or the reverse. as they case may b..
 "Trades are simply an exchange of votes. Constituents are often unreason- congressman to accomplish the impos- sible. Now the man who is in favor of the erection of post-office at Smiths Crossing, which his colleagues regard as an extravagant waste of public moneys, will agree to vote for the passage of bill granting railroad franchise on Mars provided he can get a vote for his post office. The people back home will not care what he votes for on Mals, but they will hold him responsible for that post office. The lobbyist frequently facilitates these trades
 sThe third method ridicule is what is us- ually employed to defeat legislation which would be detrimental to the lobbyists principals. l will tell you story as illus tration. A number of years ago the Illi- nois legislature proposed to curtail the profits aud compel greater consideration of their patrons by the insurance con- panies doing business in that state. The insurance companies immediately sent a lobbyist to Springfield. He offered no bribes and opposed no anti-insurance legislation. On the contrary he was loud in his denunciation of the insurance con- panies, emphasized the injustices they practiced, and in every way facilitated and abetted every detrimental proposition. His efforts resulted in arousing perfect furor of opposition to his principals. Finally the bill came up for passage and bo nIovod hio %rurr oord Anopoopdpoor requiring the payment of life insurance within forty-eight hours in cases of death by suicide was before the house when a member, who had been worked up to the proper pitch of indignation, secured rec- ognition and moved to amend the amend ment to include death from cacoethes loquendi. The motion was promptly seconded, carried and accepted by the speaker. The ridicule which followed killed the entire bill and the lobbyist had accomplished his purpose"
 It has been announced from practically authoritative sources that Lyman J. Gage, secretary of the treasury, ,has resigned ,and that his resignation will take effect as soon as the president can appoint his successor. Secretaries Hay, Long and Hitchcock are the only men left in the cabinet whose resignation is rumored, and 1t Is reported that Mir. Hay will remain ii the president can prevail upon him to do so.
 Andrew Carnegie has been to Washing ton again and has again iunched with the president. After he left it was given out that before congress reconvenes he will have presented his generous gift of $1O,- 900, 900 for a university for higher educa- tion at Washington in form that will be acceptable to Mr. Roosevelt and to con. gress, ,and it was rumored he had said that, if nAo0asarv ha will douh1o fho ornount