Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1905-05-31

dollars.
incompetent Lobbyists.
'At this session. and at every SEES
sion for years, paid lobbyists have been
employed about this legislature by the
railroads who are incompetent. to argue
committee. They are a grade of men
with whom the railway companies
would not trusJ the trial of a petty
damage suit in a justice court. They
dog the footsteps OF legislators in ana
out of the capitol. they follow them to
their rooms and hotels, they are free
with entertainment. 1t is their bus
mess more especially to see legisla-
tors personally. Their special talent
seems to fit them more particularly for
private argument Their presence is
an annoyance and a nuisance. Their
employment here should Constitute a
statutory offense.
Favors Free Speech.
Il would neither recommend nor ap-
prove of law interfering with free
and full public discussion OF all meas
ures of proposed legislation. Every
opportunity and every courtesy should
be extended to those VINO favor and to
those who oppose any pending bill COR
opes public discussion, before commit
tees and in either chamber before leg
islators and the public Every legiti-
mate argument which any lobbyist has
to offer, and which any legislator
ought to hear, can be presented before
committees, before the legislators as a
body, through the press, from the pub
lie platform, and through printed briefs
and arguments placed in the hands OF
all members and accessible to the pub
lie
Corporate interests can maintain a
strong lobby composed Of able men at
the capitol Throughout the entire ses-
sion. Those who would be heard In
opposition cannot How unjust it Is
to hold a public hearing, invite botn
sides to present arguments, and thea
when the hearing is over to allow the
permanent lobby 10 continue the dis
cussion with individual legislators per-
sonally through weeks of the session
thereafter, without those opposed be-
ing present to hear and refute argu-
:ntnts. Leaving aside all question OF
any improper suggestion or induce
ment being presente- to a personal
or private interview with a legislator
consider how unjust it is to the oppos1-
ton and to the public to accord to one
side such an advantage when it is de-
MED, or impossible, to The other"
ITO exclude lobbyists from the leg
lslative halls may remote the comfort
and convenience of members of the
senate and assembly. It would, In no
measure, tend to eradicate the inius
tice and evil resulting from private and
secret lobbying. Indeed, 1t might tend
to increase instead. No. This legisIa
ture owes it to itself and to the people
of the state 10 destroy the secret lobby,
root and branch. Under the vigilent
eyes of an awakened public, the opera
tions of the lobby have not been so
openly offensive 10 decent morals at
this session as at previous sessions.
But the personal appeals Of said lobby
lists have been resistently made to leg
islators through this session after hear
ings have been closed, after those rep
resenting the other side have retired
from the capitol and from the city, be-
lieving, as they had the the right to
believe, that the discussion had closed
Personal, private lobbying is wrong in
principle, and is absolutely certain to
be vicious in practice, No legislation
which has been enacted will be secure
and that which the public interests
will require in the future, will never be
reasonably certain of attainment until
the secret lobby withits misrepresenta.
tion and its wrong doing, is prohibited
by law. I commend to your consider
ate judgment the enactment of a stat
ute making it penal offense for a paid
lobbyist to approach a legislator priv
ately or personally upon any matter
which is the subject of legislation