Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-02-26
Lobbying at Richmond.
Norfolk Pilot

Norfolk Pilot.
If the General Assembly of Virginia has
any regard for its own dignity or the good
opinion of the people of the State 1t VIII
take steps to keep the lobbying that Is
constantly going on in the capitol within
seemly bounds.
1t is the common report of those VINO
have seen something of Legislatures for
wears that the "third house" was never so
numerous as at this sessi III, nor have lis
members before been SO open and hagant
in the methods they have adopted Tor m
fluencing legislatlOn-an assertion that the
public NAV well believe when it is recalled
that twice in a couple of weeks members
who were on their feet speaking have been
interrupted or insulted by advocates or
opponents of measure who were not
members and had no more right to the
floor tLan the janitor of the building. The
Richmond dispatches of Wednesday de-
tailed the latest incident when the doughty
sheriff of Warwick county and Representa-
tive Jordan were prevented from coming
to blows only by the intervention OF
others.
In fact, if perfectly credible authorities
are to he believed, the lobbying has be-
come SO open and shameless as to constl-
TUE public scandal. Are the members
of the General Assembly prepared t. toler'
ate that thing? Are they going to con
tinue tamely 20 submit to covert threats IN
the committee rooms and to browbeatine
on the floor?
1t is perfectly legitimate for citizens who
are interested in measure to 90 before
the proper committees and urge thtil
reasons for favoring or opposing 1t. 1t Is
also legitimate that they should canvass
the matter with members privately. Nc
objection is to be made TO that. But the
paid lobbyist who buttonhoes members
dogs their steps, importunes them anc
loses money to them at poker is a very DIT
ferent proposition.
Indeed, we have never been able to un
derstand how any selfrespectng leglsla
tor can permit his opinion or his vote up
on any measure to be influenced by thu
importunities of a hired lobbyist who i
working for his fee and C res nothlnl
whatever about the merits of bill. 1t Il
pretty poor compliment to our LegIsla
tors and Congressman that the lobble
swarm with hirelihgs paid to tell mem
beers what to do and what not to do. W.
are unable to see any very great difference
between the Legislator who accepts
'fee" to vote for or against a bill and thu
Legislator who permits himself to be in
fluenced to vote for or against bill by
man whom he knows has been paid to ex
ert that influence. Ifthe one is eating th
devil the other is drinking his broth.
We repeat that the General Assembl,
will enhance its own dignity and the re
spect in which it is held by the public b,
curtailing lobbying and by giving les
time and attention to hired lobbyists pal'
to spout in committees and wheede ant
caiole members outside. There are meas
ure now before the Legislature that ar
; fair, just and necessary and that shoul'
, have passed long ago; but they have beef
and are held up by men paid to accomplish
that very purpose.
The people of Virginia are likely to con
clude that some members Of the presen
General Assembly are exceedingly amenabl
to influence. Else why does the swarm
paid lobbyists continue to buzz about 1t?