The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1913-06-02
SENATORIAL. INQUISITIoN.

tho length that it is going in making
inquiries into the so-called lobby. 1t
is commendablo in the Senate, beyond
all question, for that body to resent any
| intrusions Of hired lobbyists or corrup-
tionists seeking interestedly TO in
| fluence the action Of that body. 1t Is
quite another thing. however, to under
take to abridge the privileges of Ameri'
can business men and citizens who ap-
pear to demonstrate against the passage
OF the Wilson Underwood tariff bill in
so far as that bill threatens their in
dustries and their business. When it
comes to the point that American citi-
zens cannot go to the Congress Of the
United States and plead their case,
either openly before committees or per.
sonally as between themselves and Sen
ators and Representatives, then indeed
is dark cloud impending over the Re
public. The privileges of citizens to
petition, plead advise, and counsel can.
not Justly be denied. But the impor-
tunities of hired lobbyists can and
should be denied not only as to this
Dill, Dnt as TO all oCner5.
But even tho invasion Of the rights
Of citizenship is not the worst Of this
lobby resolution that has been
passed. Senators individually are 10 be
put upon the rack and treated as under
suspicion and as dishonorable, il not
criminal, in their official acts, They are
required to swear as to their interest
in any matter affected by any bill now
before Congress or that has been before
the Senate during the term of the Sen
ator, and whether or not any Senator
has ever tried to influence any other
Senator to vote for measure in which
he was interested.
That is certainly going very far. tt
puts every Senator under suspicion. and
obliges him to free himself by oath on
the old compurgation doctrine of the
middle ages. It is marvellous indeed
that Senators will vote to put them
selves in this sort of a position.
It is quite true that it is illegal and
to be condemned in every way that it
can be looked upon, for a Senator or
Representative to vote upon any ques-
tion in which he is personally interest
ed. We see from time to time that mem
bers excuse themselves from voting be-
cause of this very interest that might
be pleaded, or absenting themselves
when the roll is called. And since this
is the practice, surely Senators ought
to be allowed to act upon honor in all
this matter If Senators are not to be
treated as honorable men and as rec
ognizing the legal as well as the moral
obligation which is upon them not TO
vote in favor Of propositions that would
put money into their own pockets. then
surely it would be hopeless to under
take TO clear the Senate of this evil by
administering an oath. An honorable
man would not vote on matters in
which he had a personal interest such
as is contemplated. A dishonorable
man would take the oath and cast his
vote whether he had an interest in the
matter or not. So that we do not see
anything to be gained by administering
such an oath, but very much to be lost
in considering the whole membership
of the Senate as under suspicion, and
every member obliged to clear himself
by a vote of expurgation.
The evils Of paid lobbying are OBJ
vious to every one, and paid lobbying
should and could be suppressed if Con-
gress really wished TO suppress it. But
the right Of citizens engaged in lawful
business to assemble in Washington to
plead with members of Congress in any
way that they can reach them as to dis
astrous proposals of legislation, is un-
doubted To question it is to put
limit upon the freedom Of the citizen
that is entirely unwarranted by our in
stitutions and that is unjust to the cit
izen and TO the public alike. Restric,
tive action like this opens the way for
the abridgment of the plain rights Of
citizenship, and is the beginning of an
oppression that might easily be disas-
trous to popular institutions; while the
third proposition, to require every mem
Der to expurgate himself by an oath
of non-interest raises a suspicion
against every member that is as humil-
iating as it is unjust. If any such oath
as this is required it should be incor-
porated in the oath taken by every
Senator as he assumes office. In that
case 1t would not be anything like as
offensive, as harsh, and as malignant in
its insinuations as it is to catch Sena-
tors now in progress of their terms and
demand Of them an oath which is in it.
self an accusation of dishoDor.