River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-06-01
SAYS LOBBY MUST co
LA TOILETTE URGES LEGIsLA-
TON AGAINST EVIL.
ROOT IT OUT" He SAYS
Chief Executive Sends Strong Mes
sage to Both Branches and Law
May Be Enacted-Other
Legislative News.
wv. W. Garrison staff Correspondent

CIV. w. Garrison, Staff Consequently
Madison, Wis, May 29.-Secret lob
bying, which has come to be a gigan-
tic factor in the 1905 session of the
Wisconsin legislature, has received a
stab from Gov. La Toilette which may
prove its death as far as this state
is concerned. The governor sent a
message to both branches of the legis-
lature urging legislation to restrain
this class and to put an end to the
lobbying of agents in the pay OF cor
porations. In his message the gov
ernor said: AT this session, and at
every session for years, paid lobbyists
have been employed about this legls-
lature by railroads who are incOm-
petent to argue any proposition before
the legislative committee. They are
a grade of men with whom railway
companies would not trust the trial
of petty damage suit in justice
court. They dog the footsteps of legis-
lators in and out of the capitol. They
follow them to their rooms and hotels.
They are free with entertainment. 1t
is their business more especially to
see legislators personally. Their spe-
cial talent seems to fit them more par
ticularly for private argument. Their
presence is an annoyance and nu1-
sance. Their employment here should
constitute a statutory offense.
Points to Other States.
''The experience in Wisconsin is
duplicated IN every state in the union
where effort is made to emancipate
legislation from corporate control. This
legislature can at this SeSsion-and
who will assume the responsibility Oh
saying it is not high time?-put all
paid lobbyists under regulations that
will make such scenes as have been
notorious in the capital city OF this
state for years impossible for all time
to come. This legislature owes it to
itself and to the people of the state to
destroy the secret lobby root and
branch
s'Under the vigilant eyes OF an
awakened public the operations OF the
lobby have not been SO openly Often
sive to decent morals at this session
as at previous SCSSiOAo. puo pOA0oAAsS-
appeals of said lobbyists have been
persistently made to legislators
through this session after hearings
have been closed, after those repre-
senting the other side have retired
from the capitol and from the city,
believing. as they had a right to be-
iieye. that discussion had closed. Per
sonal private lobbying is wrong IN
nrinciple 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 future never VIII De
reasonably certain of attainment I'M
FIJI the secret lobby with its mlsrep-
resentation and its wrongdoing. is pro-
hibited bv law. Immediately after the
reading of the document the john
son bill. which has the same evil Tor
it's theme. was laid over in order that
it's inconvenience might be recon
sidered. Agitation against lobbylsm
has been rampant since the opening
Of the body last January, and PERIODS
of month were always marked by a
certain number of anti-lobby bills.
The most notorious of lobbies was that
of the telephone interests, which made
itself conspicuous by its efforts IN this
direction.