Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-06-12
a
Y Y LETTER
BY H. B. WALKER
Star staR Correspondent.
ANTI-LoBBY LEGISLATION

Star Bureau,
Metropolitan National Bank Bldg,
WARRINGTON. June I2.


WASHINGTON, June IL.
It does not seem likely that the
disclosures made in the lobby investi-
cation will result in legislation, at
least at the present Session. There
is much near-hysteria in Congress
and in some of the newspapers just
at present on the subject. Reformers
of the type who believe all sorts of
public ills can be cured by passing
laws are proposing bills of dozen
kinds for the registration of lobby
lists, for barring legislative agents
from the Capitol, for prohibiting the
publication of advertisements and
mailing circulars designed to infiu-
ence legislation, and numerous other
alleged cure-alls.
Among serious-thinkins men, how
ever this form of hYsteria does not
extend far and 1t is generally adj
mitted that drastic legislation would
probably not accomplish the ends it
sought.
President Satisfied.
The President believes that his
little slap at the tariff lobby has ac-
ccnnp!ished its main purpose. Fol
lowed by the Senate committee dis
closures, it has forced to the atten-
ton of the whole country the fact
that efforts were being made by
special privileges to have tariff law
framed in the interest of the pro-
tected producers, rather than in the
interests of the consumers of the
country as a whole. The investiga-
ton has made it clear that in the
past tariff laws have been framed in
Just this way; that special interests
have been represented in Congress
and given much attention, while the
masses of the consumers have had no
representation and less consideration.
The attention of the whole country
has been called to the long-existent
scandal, known by only a few hereto
FORE of the lobby activities of former
senators and representatives, who
have used their acquaintance and
standing here to influence legislation
in behalf of special interests.
It has been shown, too, that the
ways of the modern lobby are in
sidious 1t has been shown that the
old BLACK Horse Cavalry" which
in the days agone depended on wine,
women and money for its effect, is
thing of the past.
The lobby of today knows more
about the art of influencing pubic
men through public opinion, and
moulding public opinion with print
ers' ink, than it does about the
seductive methods of draw poker and
houses of mirth. There are stories
going about the capital that some
senators, and Others, who have been
on the stand in the investigation SO
far, have not been entirely frank in
their statements, and that strenuous
efforts are being made by certain
senators to prevent the examination
of certain men familiar with lobby in
fluences whose names are on the
committees list of prospective wit
nesses. For the most part, however,
nothing has been brought out or sug-
gested to indicate that there has
been any actual attempt directly to
influence senators through improper
methods.
How much further the investigation
will go is uncertain. What seems
certain is that it is not likely to ac-
complish much more in results than
has been attained. And it also seems
certain that if the efforts being made
in some quarters to enter upon a
long period of lobby inquisition, fol-
lowed by lobby legislation, is success
full, President Wilson'S attack will
have overshot it's mark. The pur-
pose of the President was not to
open up general crusade against
lobbying, but to call attention to the
efforts being made by special privi-
lege to influence the pending tariff
revision.
Differences of Opinions.
There is wide difference of opinion
as to the wisdom of lobby legisla-
ton suggested. Some of the hot
headed reformers would go so far as
to forbid any organizations or pub
licity intended or designed to in
fiuence legislation. They want to
lock senators and representatives up
where they can't be got at, and forbid
the printing of arguments, circulars
and advertisements to promote or
oppose pending bills. Wiser heads
will probably discourage and curb
these hysterical outbreaks of threat
ened censorship. 1t has been pointed
out that proposed laws for register
ing lobbyists will do little good. The
corrupt lobbyist would register, lie
about his purposes and affiliations
and take the chance of getting
caught. The conscientious man who
now comes to Washington to give
some senator or other official honest
advice. information or warning
would very likely hesitate to put him
self on record as to his exact pur-
poses. IL forced to make his visits
public, many of these men would
stay away. I know, for instance, OF
prominent business man who comes
to Washington once month to see
the senator from his State and give
him inside information concerning
business conditions. This man is il
n ,,osition IN know things that enable