The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-02-23
MORALS OF CONGRESSMAN
NO MONEY BRIBES, IN SPITE OF
SENSATIONAL STORIES.
Sobriety, Decency and Honesty the
Rule, and Lobby Uses Arguments
LegitimateIy Enough.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press.

Washington Letter in Philadelphia Press.
Contrary to current opinion. money brides
are unknown in Congress. In this respect
Congress is honest. Compared with some
state legislatures, that of Pennsylvania, for
instance, Congress is the embodiment Of
integrity And yet, judging by reports of
corruption that frequently appear in the
sensational press of the country. the corri-
doris of the Capitol filled with lobbyists
and promoters whose pockets are bullying
with fat rolls of greenbacks. and each cor
ner and pillar in the building witnesses the
secret transfer of these rolls to congress
men, whose eager hands clutch at the bride.
This is an erroneous idea and one that
has not the slightest foundation in fact
The promoter of legislation who would ap-
proach the most obscure congressman
with an offer of money would ruin his use
fulness to the interests employing him
and would betray his provincial experience.
The 800 and $1,000 bills that so often are
potent factors In state legislatures are un-
known in Washington. This does not mean
that there are no efforts TO control and
form legislation by interests outside Of the
Capitol. And it does not mean that these
interests are not prepared to adopt any
form Of bribery to attain their purpose,
but the brutal cash purchase Is never at
tempted.
There may be isolated cases Of bribery in
each Congress. where votes are influenced
by other considerations than belief in the
merit of the measure supported. There may
be a guarantee of influence TO re-elect a
member; there may be promise of prefer
ment; there may be pledges of support for
the members own bills, but they seldom
come to the surface, and in the past quar-
a
accused or taking a bride. There are fre-
quently charges that men vote in the inter-
est OF some great corporation when that in
tereSt Is against the general public good,
but nearly always it is found that the con-
stituencies represented by these men in
dOrse their action as subscribing the good
of that particular community. Direct, open
bribeztaking is unheard of, although the
people of the country are sometimes taught
to believe it Is matter OF common occur
renee.
COMPLETE LOBBY SYSTEM
Nowhere is there more complete lobby
system than in Washington. The term
lobbying is distasteful. although of com
mon USE The men and women too. who en-
gage in the work which the word implies,
prefer to be known as legislation attorneys.
agents or promoters. This business has de-
veloped into a legitimate profession and as
pursued by the majority Of promoters" is
a proper, and, to some extent, a necessarV
introduced in the House and Senate repre-
senting claims and pensions. besides gen
eral legislation, that cannot be thoroughly
examined by members OF committees and
congressman who must pass upon them.
An explanation of their merits demerisS
by Legislative attorneys Is welcomed.
Data and information are often given which
the congressman would have no time to
secure for themselves.
Then nearly every measure Of great pub
lie Importance, such as tarin bills, racine
cable bills, isthmian canal bills, shipping
bills, currency bills and many others, re-
quire experts to discuss and explain. In
most cases these experts are attorneys who
have studied the subjects and represent In
terests that may be affected by the legis-
latiOn. They argue for their clients as they
would in court of law. Then, in addition
to the big attorneys, smaller fry are en-
ployed. who endeaVOr by personal inter-
views and arguments with individual menu
bers TO enforce the view that is advocated
by the interests they represent. This is ali
considered as legitimate work, the same as
is the personal appeal of an individual who
has "A little pension or claim bill before Con-
gress. This is lobbying, not bribery.
DRINKING AND MORALS
Another popular misconception of Con-
gress is dispelled by acquaintance with
that body, and that is the idea that the
House and Senate is made up of hard drink
ers and immoral men. This opinion is due
to the sensational charges of misinformed
or intentionally mendaciOuS temperance and
semi-religiOus publications. The awful hold
the demon rum has on the Nation is usu-
ally depicted in gruesome wood cuts, show
ing alleged scenes in the House or Senate
restaurants. The effect of intemperance
and kindred immoralities is pictured in
ruined homes of senators and representa-
tives. Imaginary "gilded palaces" where
fortunes are won and lost on the turn of a
card are told about and Washington pic
tured as the very center of vice and folly
of which Congress is the source.
There may have been a time when there
was some excuse for such assertions. There
are still some racy stories told Of the do
ingS' of statesmen in the days when drink
ing was a virtue and temperance rarely OBJ
served. But the period of these scandals IS
very remote. AT the time Washington was
no worse than any other city in the coun-
try, but in the advance OF the Nation in So
briefly and decency, the capital city has
been well to the front. The congressional
element actually sets an example to the
whole city. A drunken congressman now
shocks the sensiblities as much drunk
en- woman. The day when members OF both
houses appeared on the floor under the in
fluence of liquor, is past Even during all
night sessions, when the temptation TO re-
lieve the tedium and fatigue by occasional
libations is very great, there are no longer
the scenes of drunkenness that were COM
mon some years age. A comparison of the
conduct of the Congress of to-day with that
of even fifteen years ago, would convince
the peSsimist that mankind, as represented
by these statesmen. is growing better.
1t is no longer fashionable to take too
much wine or liquor, and official society
frowns upon exhibitions that were toler-
ated once upon a time. In the House and
Senate restaurants hard liquor" has been
tabOoed and only wines and beers are
served. The sight of some habituai drinker.
once found among the congressmen-taking
four fingers of whisky and using tomato
sauce as chaser" is no longer witnessed.
There still exist committee rooms whose
closets and bookcases afford hiding place
for suspicious looking bottles, but this very
l. of he of tho