The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-04-27
BILL AFFECTING LOBBYISTS.
GOVERNOR SIGNS ARMSTRONG
COMMITTEES MEASURE.
II Requires Promoters Of Legislation to
lne Statements Giving he Names OF
Their Clients, Amount OF Compensation
Received and Expenses Incurred.

~ u 90
lne Statements Giving he Names Of
Their Clients, Amount OF Compensation
Received and Expenses Incurred.
ALBANY, April 2e.-Gov. Higgins to-day
signed the bill of the Armstrong insurance
committee requiring persons retained az
legislative agents or in any way appearing
for others in promoting legislation to file
with the Secretary Of State q written state
ment naming those by whom they are
retained and the nature Of the services re-
ouired OF them and within two months after
the Legislature adjourns a supplemental
statement covering the amount Of COM
pensation received and the expenses in
CURED while they were engaged in the
service specified.
The Governor gave out this memorandum
in signing the measure:
This bill compels every person employed
as counsel or agent to promote or oppose
the passage Of bills in either house to file
in the Office OF the Secretary Of State a
notice giving the names Of his clients, to-
gether with a description of the legislation
in reference to which he is employed. 1t
prohibits employment of such counsel or
agent for q contingent fee. 1t prohibits any
person from being employed to promote
or oppose legislation whose appearance
is not entered in accordance with the pro-
visions Of this act.
1.-TWO months after the adjournment Of the
Legislature all persons and corporations
employing legislative counsel or agents
must fila In the Office of the Secretary Of
state a verified itemized statement showing
ali expenses incurred in connection with
legislation pending at the last previous
session. Violation of the section is a mis-
demeanor and civil penalties are also pro-
vided for.
| the relation Of attorney and client and prin-
cipal and agent existing in connection with
legislative matters and thereby to prevent
secret lobbying and the use OF so-called
yellow dog, funds. and approve it for the
reason that 1t Is a measure OF Importance TO
remedy a real evil.
culture legislation will doubtless improve
in some respects it's provisions. The Massa-
chusetts act allows q person to enter himself
upon the docket as legislative counsel ex-
| clusively and prohibits q person whose name
is so entered from rendering service other
wise than by appearing before committee
| and by doing work properly inciden thereto
or by giving legal advice as regular legal
counsel Of corporations or associations.
The Massachusetts, statute further pro-
yides for q separate docket of legislative
agents who may by all other lawful methods
than the above promote or oppose legisla-
ton. 49,,
1T would seem that lawyers Of high repute
might draw a distinction between the work
OF the legislative counsel and the work Of
the legislative agent and might decline to
! reRister their appearance under this bill,
which does not distinguish between the
two classes Of employment, but authorizes
/ the agent to appear before committees and
| the counsel to engage in personal solicit
tation Of individual members Of the Legis-
lature.
aThe bill contains no provision for the
disbarmeut Of legislative counsel or agents
for improper practices, and in my judgment
the bill would be strengthened II such pro-
vision were added thereto
The Governor has also signed Mr.. Whites
bill authorizing the payment by the Cham
berlain Of the city Of New York, onthe war
rant Of the Comptroller, to the president Of
the Prison Ships Martyrs Monument Assoc
citation Of the United States Of the $50 900
heretofore appropriated By the New York
city BoaSd Il obstinate and A~pportionmout.