The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-02-26
SENATOR THORN HOT
AFTER THELOBBYISTS
Bin introduced in Senate BY Thorn
to Reveal the Work Of Lobbyist
and His Expenditures.
HEAVY PENALTY ATTACHES
For Failure Of Corportaloas and
Combines to Make Report Of an
Their Outlay for Legislation

CHARLESTON, Feb. %. Especial,
SENATOR A. X. Thorn today intro-s
duced a bill requiring firms and cor
porations having agents working for
or against legislation to file with the ,
secretary of state previous to the
session, the name of such agent and
legislation affected, with fee OF
$1,000. After the adjournment Of
the legislature they must Gle an
itemized list of expenses incurred,
and to whom paid. Failure to do SO
is penalized with fine.
The text of the bill is as follows:
A bill relating to services in legls-
lative matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature OF
West Virginia:
Sec. /. That every person retain
ed or employed for compensation. as
counsel or agent, by any person,
firm, corporation or association to
promote or oppose, directly or In
directly, the passage of bills or
resolutions, by either the Senate or
House of Delegates, or to promote
or oppose executive approval Of such
bills or resolutions, shall, IN each
and every year, before any service Is
entered upon in promoting or oppos-
ing such legislation, file in the ONCE
of the secretary of state writing
subscribed by such counsel or agent.
stating the name or names Of the
person or persons, firms or firms,
corporation or corporations, associa-
ton or associations, by whom or ON
whose behalf he is retained or en-
ployed, together with a brief de-
scription Of the legislation, in refer
ence to which such service is to be
rendered. nm
No notice so filed shall be valid
for more than thirty days after the
adjournment Of the session OF the
Legislature held in the year in which
the same is fled. 1t shall be the
duty of the secretary Of state to pro
vide a docket of legislative appear
ances, with appropriate blanks and
indices, and to forthfith enter there
in the names of the counsel and
agents so retained or employed. and
of the persons, firms. corporations
or associations retaining or employ
ing them, together with brief de-
scription of the legislation in refer
ence to which the service is to be rem
dered, which docket shall be open
ed to public inspection.
Upon the termination Of such en-
ployment the fact Of such termina-
tion. with the date thereof, may Be
entered by direction of either such
counsel or agent, or Of the employer.
No person, firm. corporation or asso-
citation shall retain or employ any
person to promote or oppose legis.
lation for compensation contingent
in whole or in part upon the passage
of or defeat of any legislative meas
ure or measures. No person shall
for compensation engage in promot-
ing or opposing legislation except
upon appearance entered in accord
ance with the foregoing provisions Of
this section. And no person shall
accept any such employment or rem
der any such service for compensa-
tion contingent upon the passage or
defeat Of any legislative measure or
measures. 1t shall be the duty OF
every person, firm; corporation or
association, within two months after
the adjournment of the Legislature to
file in the Office Of the secretary OF
state an itemized statement verified
by the oath Of such person, or in
case Of domestic corporation or as
sociation. of an officer thereof, or IN
case Of foreign corporation Or as
sociatlon, Of an officer or an agent
thereof, showing in detail all ex-
penses paid, incurred or promised,
directly or indirectly. in connection
Wit hthe legislation pending At the
(Continued on PAGE /.