The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1905-01-29
COMPEL THE LOBBYIST
TO BE REGISTERED AND TAGGED.

TO BE REGISTERED AND TAGGED.
A few weeks ago. in answer to the
contention of a contemporary that leg
islative lobbying should be prohibited
at the state capital, The Journal I'M
dertook to show why no such law
could or should be passed.
If it were a matter affecting only
the professional lobbyist who goes
there to corrupt legislators and to cor
ruptly influence legislation, such a law
could and should be enacted. But. as
there is no way of combining its opera
lions to the professional lobbyist, a
law prohibiting lobbying would apply
as well to the honest representative of
an honest measure as to the gang of
political pirates whom it seeks to shut
out, ana its unfairness is therefore at
once apparent
Governor Folk, of Missouri, however,
seems to have hit upon a plan that
appears perfectly legal and that, with
al possesses the merits of both prac-
disability and fairness. He has issued
an order requiring lobbyists to report
to him on their arrival in Springfield
and providing that they may stay in
the town but thirty-six hours when
they must leave. They must, in effect,
register, just as they would at hotel,
and register on when they get ready
TO leave.
This plan is unique, but it ought to
prove effective. Under the laws of
Florida, the governor probably has no
such power, but there is nothing to
prevent the legislature from passing 4
law which shall provide for the proper
registration and tagging of the lobby
lists as they arrive.
Suppose that when a person who
has business in connection with the
work of the legislature arrived in Tai
lahassee he were compelled to register
before an officer provided for that pur-
pose, state his business there. receive
a lobbyist" badge to be worn in plain
view at all times, and then report at
the end of each day as to just how
many and what members he had seen,
stating number, time and place, and
being specific on the point as to the
measure or measures in which he had
sought to interest them. Just suppose
this. Wouldn't it put sort of damp
blanket on the hopes, aspirations, and
operations of the ancient and reprehen-
sible profession of lobbying? We
guess rather.
To the plain, honest everyday citi-
zen who goes openly and honestly to
the state legislature in the interest of
some honest measure which he wishes
to become a law or in opposition to
some dishonest measure which he
would like to see defeated, such a re-
quirement would not prove either bur
densome or disagreeable. He is there
for an honest purpose and he there
fore has nothing to conceal. They
might tag him all over with lobbyist
badges and it would neither hurt his
feelings nor injure his influence. 1t
might, in fact, really serve the purpose
of an introduction to the members of
the legislature whom he wishes to see,
But the professional" lobbyist
would be labelled for the entire session
and his profession" would be shorn of
its most effective accompaniment-the
privilege of doing in the dark what he
would not be allowed to do in the day
time and what no honest man would
DO either day time or dark.
At any rate The Journal submits the
suggestion to Governor Broward and
the next legislature and it leaves the
matter in their hands, for action either
good or Ill.