New-York tribune., 1905-02-13
LOBBY AND FREAK BILLS.
HO1o They add Interest to MaSsa-
cbuSettS'S Great and General Court.

Boston. Feb. u (Special)-Probably no State in
the Union has annually such a mass of proposed
freak legislation and petitions to consider as the
Great and General Court Of the old Bay State
These bug bills" they termed by the legis-
lators ana State House reporters cover every con-
ceivabe subject. from the ameoration of the con-
dition Of homeless cats to the prevention prema
ture burial; from the investigation of election
frauds to the appropriation of to cover dam
ages caused by runaway shoats; and the total
number Of such measures quietly buried In COM
mittee is enormous. The Committee on Probate and
Chancery has o majority OF these momentous ques-
lions to wrestle with before it is decided what
shall be done with them. It's duties comprise
passing upon the merits of bill to prohibit fishing
for herring by moonlight perhaps, in one hearing:
the next one will be on the question of allowing
depostors TO have voice IN the election of bank
officers, likely. And so on Were a time limit
set for the introduction OF new bills resolves and
petitions there would be end to it.
Each and every of the bills has it's own
earnest advocates. who flock to the hearings and
expound oratorically its widespread benefits ~
passed They buttonhole the members and try to
get their promise of favorable vote forgetting
that the bill may get to the chamber at all
since the committee considering IT NAV uuietlv
bury it. But they make life miserable for the mem
bers. nevertheless. And these not the only
members or the third house" The regular 'Iegis-
lative counsel" of course, are required bv law 70
register their names their employers and the MAS
ures which they Will advocate during the session
There is a penalty provided If they fail to do so
They are considered legitimate evil, or rather a
necessary evil. and are kept within legal bounds
But the real bane OF the legislators existence are
the "loafers" (hey be called nothing else) who
infest the corridors about the two chambers and
buttonhoe members as they come ont each WITH :.
tale to unfold One makes gentle touch" and
perhaps gets the price OF drink; another wants =
3oo on the elevated but the legislator cannot give
MIN a card or recommendation, for a recent law
forbids him soliciting jobs from corporations Or
others interested in possible legislation on oh.
HILL" So the member gives the applicant a note
TO another party and the third party sends him to
the place where jobs handed out. and tele-
phones down his name in the mean time.
Last week an order passed in the House, in
troduced by Representative Luce directing the
sergeants-at-arms to keep back all oiterers at least
twenty PAGES from the doors of the chamber and
out OF the corridor adjoining. So no more is an
unshaven race placed confdentially to the ear OF
the city member with large but poor constituency
and not oVerclean paw stretched out to catch the
crumb OF comfort hauled reluctantly from a chanea
pocket There is now dead line" and no man
may go beyond it without handing his card to tho
sentry on guard. TO be sent In to the member
wanted. No man is allowed to wait around in the
hope or seeing him. If he won't come out they
must move along. Generally the crowd has bean
close up to the door. and 1t has been matter os
lighting ones way through.
THANK the Lord" said one Boston rnen,her
next payday 1 VIII not be obliged To give mn ~.
my salary That it seems. has been the praottca
with some members who have a numerous go .
"heelers. for these legislative lodgers have t.t
we'll posted on every legislative payday ana tha,
have reached the members just at that time
Thomas w. Lawson has made sweepinp ch.u
OF bribery OF the legislature by lobbyists h,+ ~,
charges have not been substantiated bv eac,a
though no doubt isolated cases might be fonnd :.
almost any time. However. one politician who hos
held numerous offices explains how the i.nnra.sta
might gst abroad especially among those tntaro.tas