The midland journal., 1908-03-13
WASHINGTON LET TER.

lobbying aud has used improper methods
ia influencing legislation before Con
gress 1t WILDE remembered that some-
thing over week ago charges of this
sort were made. They created some
thing of sensation at the time and were
referred to committee, and 10 was freely
predicted that they would never get out
of the committee and that the whole
thing would be hnshed up. Apparently
this is not to be. They have been re
ported out and an investigation committee
appointed. This committee will hear
evidence, already knowing. quite as much
about the matter as the most of the wit
.nesses, and finally there will be report
that does not mean anything, aud then
the wholeything win be hushed up and
forgotten just as cases of this sort always
are. Of course charges Of this sort are
not made every day, but the affair itself
is not very much out of the ordinary.
The Holland Submarine Boat Company
and It's successors the Electric Boat Com
pany have had the inside track at Wash
ington ever since submarines were FIRST
seriously considered. The company has
been one of the boldest and most hagraut
offenders in the way Of lobbying and
using improper influence, but it has not
been very much ahead of number of
other big corporations 1t will not be at
all surprising if the committee reports
that it has been unable to sutstantiate
any ofthe charges of improper influence
That is just where the vicious part of the
system COMES in, aud it creates the in
terest rather in the general situation than
in the specific case of lobbying charges
against the boat company. 1t may be Of
interest to the outsider to understand
how this sort Of thing is generally worked.
There are not many congressman who
can be offered money outright. Such an
offer would be crude and maladroit and
would be likely to defeat its own ends
But money can be and is used on Con-
gress, and there are comparatively few
members who are proof against it in one
form or another.
The representative of big corporation
comes down TO Washington with roll of
bills that would ditch freight train and
want a contract or are interested in
having some piece of legislation either
passed or defeated. Most OF the very iui-
portant corporations keep representative
on regular salary in Washington the
year round and allow him specified sum
for Entertainment" This in part was
the case of the Electric Boat Company
All the Congressman aud all the news
paper men knew it so it is violating no
condolences to say so The entertain
ment runs all the way from casual drinks
and cigars in hotel bar. to luncheons
with wine at a swell restaurant or most
elaborate and tempting dinners at private
houses. All this is merely establishing
personal relations with the men who
pondeuts, bureau chiefs in the depart
ments. or members of Congress. Yon
can do business great deal better with a
man when you have dinner acquain
tance with him. Then there are yacht
ing trips ip the summer, special trains
and the accompanying entertainment
tndthat sort of thing. This was one of
the very methods used most effectually
in defeating the New Mexico Arizona
Statehood bi |.
Perhaps the nearest that is usually
come to the actual use of money is in
campaign contributions. The Lobby
Man makes ii his business to know who
is in need of help in his district and who
is not. 1t is easy to throw in good con
,ributiou at critical moment, either to
help member 10 reelection or TO defeat
him. The campaign manager is the man
who handles the money. The members
do not have to touch il or even know
officially that If has been contributed.
Then after a piece Of legislation that will
make stock more valuable is put through
II is often possible 10 lei member PICK
up some Of it at a bargain price. 1t is
even possible 10 buy and carry line of
stock for member in purely business
way. Witness the famous telegram of
Senator Quay that was unique only in its
wording Buy and carry thousand
shares of Met. for me and will shake the
plum tree" It is very hard for an in.
vestigating committee to 6nd anything
venal in the methods of the astute lobby
ist, especially if the committee does not
want to find it. Therefore it may be
safely predicted that nothing much will
come out ofthe Investigation OF the LilIey
'charges.