The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-14
LET'S ADJOURN THE THIRD
HOUSE."

The Georgia Legislature has before it
proposition to impose franchise tax
on railroads. AS natural result the
city of Atlanta is now the scene of one
of the most powerful Hobbies known in
that city where lobbyists are as constant
in attendance upon Legislatures as the
chosen representatives of the people.
The bill has passed the House and is now
before the Senate with favorable re-
port. They are exerting such pres
sure upon the upper House as
to call forth a vigorous editorial of crit
icism and protest from the Atlanta Jour
nal Here is the picture drawn of 1.-The
third house,"
This third house is composed of the
men who have come to be designated as
lobbyists They are made up, for the
most part, of men who rank high either
as politicians or lawyers and usually as
both. They are, as a rule, chosen from
ex-members of the House or Senate, who
are not only on intimate terms with
present members of those bodies, but who
are thoroughly familiar with legislative
procedure. They are men of personal
popularity, men OF experience, and, there
fore, men of power. The corporations
generally know what to select-and they
usually get the best that money can en-
ploy.
Having had a hearing before the COM
mittees, the Journal says their continual
presence and avowed chaperonage of the
distrust among our people and throw sus-
picion upon nearly every legislative act
where corporate interests are involved
and the Journal adds:
LAS a case in point, let us look at the
franchise tax bill which recently passed
the House and which Is now before the
Senate. We find the influence of the lob
by so strong against this measure that
suspicion has already been cast, justly or
unjustly upon the Senate. We find the
combined power of the lobby concentrat-
ed against that body as it has seldom
been exerted in the annals of this State.
cit is not a hearing before the proper
committee that these agents and repre-
sentatives of the corporations seek. They
have had it. 1t is by personal persuas-
ion and through the exercise of political
influences 1--WE will not charge that there
is anything worse) that they hope to pre-
vail against the almost unanimous action
of the House and the practically unani-
nous demand Of the people. Day and
night, they are at work; under the dome
of the capitol and elsewhere.
eve charge that all of this is PERM
cious, unlawful and hurtful in the ex-
IRENE. We hold that in the interest of
the people and of untrammelled legisla-
ton an end should be put to it. We be-
lieve when these legal representatives
of certain interests have finished their
business before the committees from
which they seek a hearing they should
leave the Legislature alone. Their con-
slant attendance upon that body is just
cause for scandal If the interests which
they represent will not call them off, the
members of the Legislature of Georgia
owe it to themselves and to their consti-
tuents to drive them off,"
The Journal is doing great public SER
vice in thus exposing the persistent lob
lying when railroad law agents, attor
neys and lobbyists employ to defeat the
will of the people. But if it expects to
deter these hired corporate tools from
their purpose by publicity and criticism
they know little of the animal. Before
he took the money of the railroads,
the lobbyist knew what was expected of
him. Most of that species will stop short
of nothing to carry their ends and earn
their share of the DOODLE The Journals
tufts of grass ought to be effective, but
If it hopes to succeed it will have to
throw rocks.
The people of North Carolina are ia
milar with the picture drawn by the