Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-10

mas again risen IL MS seat 10 De nedTO
in the lower house. This time it is
on the lobby question, anent which
the Congressional Record says:
Mr.. Tavenner. Mr.. Speaker, l wish
to ask unanimously consent to extend
my remarks in the Record on the sub
iect Of Hobbies.
The Speaker. The gentleman from
Illinois (Mr. Tavennerj asks unani-
nous consent to extend his remarks
in the Record on the subject of lob
bies. Is there objection?
Mr.. Mann. Reserving the right to
object, Mr.. Speaker, may / ask my
colleague whether it is his intention
10 insert in the Record one of his en-
tertaining newspaper articles pub
lished throughout the country, so that
congress may have the same infor-
nation that he gives to others?
Mr.. Tavenner No. can inform
the gentleman that / think this will
be even more interesting than any of
my newspaper articles, should l get
the permission.
The Speaker. Is there objection?
There was no OBJECTION.
WI a Ehntis MI DINdhCAB AZ LILO
election last fall the people elected
members of congress to revise the
tariff on sugar and other necessaries
downward as one step toward the re-
duction of the ever-increasing cost of
living.
Powerful Hobbies are now in Wash
ington endeavoring to persuade these
members of congress to break their
pledges to the people and betray the
consumers of the land, TO the end that
a few men, already rich beyond the
dreams Of avarice, may add TO their
swollen fortunes.
1t was to place before the public
this state of affairs that President
Wilson made his now famous state
ment, in which, referring to these lob
bies, he said
Washington has seldom seen so
numerous, so industrious, or so in
sidious a lobby. There is every evil
dence that money without a limit is
being spent to sustain this lobby and
10 create an appearance of pressure
of public opinion antagonistic TO some
of the chief items OF the tariff bill.
In order that the public might know
all of the facts about the condition al
luded to by President Wilson, ! intro
duced a resolution providing for the
appointment Of a committee of five
members OF the house Of representa-
tives to investigate the subject.
This resolution reads as follows:
Whereas 1t has been charged by
the president of the United States and
there is reason TO believe that a pow
ertul and insidious lobby, represent.
ing interests hostile to the passage OF
the pending tariff bill in the form
adopted by the house OF representa-
tives, is in existence in Washington
and
Whereas newspapers are being
filled with paid advertisements calcu
lated to create an artificial public
opinion against certain items of the
tariff bill; and
Whereas il is charged and there is
reason to believe that unlimited funds
have been placed at the disposal OF
this lobby for the purpose Of over
coming the interests Of the public fol
the private profit of the interests
which they represent; and
Whereas the public maintains nc
lobby and is powerless to reply to the
paid advertisements of any lobby rep
resenting financial interests; and
Whereas bills are pending in con
gress TO regulate. and control the oper
alton of Hobbies at the national capitol
and 1t is advisable to gather any anC
all facts bearing on the aforesaid
conditions and charges or in any wa!
relating thereto as basis for RENE
dial purposes: Therefore be 1t
Resolved, That a special committe,
of five members be appointed by TN,
speaker of the house of representa-
tives to sit during the sessions of tn
house and during the recess of con
gress for the purpose OF investigator
and reporting to congress the facts II
connection with the operation OF an,
lobby or Hobbies in Washington; sal
committee shall inquire into IN
sources whence any such lobby o
Hobbies are supplied with funds an
the amount Of funds so contributed
and shall also ascertain where an
how these funds are expended and 10
what immediate and ultimate pur
pose. and shall go into general il
Quiry to learn the methods by whic
any lobby seeks to influence legisis
ton in congress.
II members of congress were to a
low themselves TO be guided by IN
views OF the lobbyists, they woul
conclude that the people back HON
were not in good faith when the
voted for tariff revision downward
Or, II they were in good faith at tn
time. that they have since change
their minds, deciding they do not d,
sire the monopolies of the tariff trust
interfered with.
But President Wilson is not bein
fooled. Nor IS the average membe
OF congress. They know that for ever
man who besesches them in Washing
ton TO retain the tariff on sugs
there are nine hundred and ninet
nine Of their constituents who are NJ
writing letters. but who demand thi
promises made TO them before ele
ton be kept after election, and esp
-. IL