The Washington times., 1905-02-21
TUESDAY. FEBRUARY q, 1905.
Congress and the Lobby.

Some commotion has been caused in
the columns Of the metropolitan
newspapers by the discovery that the
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
has been forced to shape its recon-
mendations with more of regard for
the eonfounding of lobbyists than for
the present good of the Indians.
The committee has been consider
ing the establishment of terms of the
federal court in certain towns in
Oklahoma and Indian Territory. 1t
has learned that lobbyists have COW
cred all these towns with offers to
obtain terms Of court for the usual
lobbyists consideration" In one
case S6,0o0 was asked in cold English.
IN another the price was TO be only
S1,ooo-sz50 for the enactment Of the
bill and $3.50 for expenses.
In these premises the committee
has adopted the only alternative
which presented itself Either it must
recommend sessions Of the court in
towns liable to pay the lobbyists, or
whatever, and 1t has decided to make
no recommendations
Manifestly. the activity OF these
lobbyists has INSTRUCTED the legisla-
ton for these Territories, whether
any money is paid for their unlawful
activities or not The Legislature
ought to be free to consider no other
interest than that OF the people for
whom it egislates-neither the con-
founding Of grafters' outside the
two houses nor the accommodation of
special interests inside the two
houses
This, we say. is the theory. The
practice is vastly different. Logs are
rolled in behalf of special interests
until a measure like the rivers and
narbors bill degenerates into Federal
trough at which favored communities
gorge themselves with utter shame
lessness. And lobbyists not only
move freely in and out of the Capitol,
but keep hotels and give dinners with
officers Of the Government as their
guests.
There is not a member OF either
3 house. there is not a man regularly
employed at the Capitol, there is not
a citizen Of the District acquainted
with the conduct of legislation in the
Senate and House, who does not know
that these lobbyists exist for Lhe sole
purpose of committing bribery What
ever it's form the return these meE
offer for Congressional votes has all
the clements Of bribery. Tneir very
presence at the Capitol is a disgrace
TO both houses Of Congress. The ac
ceptance Of their hospitality casts
just suspicion on the motives of the
men who vote for their measures.
It is not possible, Just aow, to
purge our legislation OF It's special
interests - Tariffs will be framed,
public buildings will be authorized.
rivers and harbors will be appro-
priated for, and appointments will be
authorized for many years to come.
with these special interests in mind.
But these lobbyists can be driven
out. Il either house genuinely desires
1t. professional lobbying can be made
practically impossible in the Capitol.
OF course. it will go on elsewhere
In boarding houses and hotels; by
means Of letters, artfully drawn end
skiiIfuIly circulated, among the con-
stItuents Of Congressman whose votes
are needed: and through the columns
Of eorrupIible newspapers. But it
can be driven from the Capitol as
soon as Congress decides that it shall
be SO. This experience CT the Senate
Committee On Indian Affairs suggests
that the time for this reform is more
than ripe.