The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-07-25
The Search at Washington Has
Shown Results.
Many Petty Grafters Have
Taken to the Woods.
FAMILIAR FACES MISSING
Probe Will Force Abandonment
of Former Methods.
Representatives of Special In
terests Losing Their Jobs.

Washington. July 25.-Efects of the
lobby hunt already are perceptible
about the capitol. Indications are they
will be visible - a good while to
come.
1t is the opinion of most observers
that whether there is legislation or not
the lobby investigation and the in
quiry into the Mulhan charges is going
to accomplish a great deal. 1t will
clear the air about the halls of legisla-
ton and will serve to center public
scrutiny on the conduct of men in con-
gresS
From time to time the State Journal
correspondent has strongly Indicated
the need of CONGRESSES having a house.
cleaning of it's own members as we'll
as its ex-members who have been
identified with the lobbying business
fC~ years past. The effect of the pres
ent investigation is going to be far
reaching. 1t will result in the light be-
ing turned on in a fashion that will
expose not only lobbyists but those
who aid them, and the petty graft Of
members of congress.
One effect observable already is that
there has been a scattering from the
capitol of a number of the. little fell
lows" among the lobbyists. Some
familiar faces of mon who have hung
around the capitol for years keeping
sharp eye on legislation are missing.
This may mean that they have van
ished to keep from being quizzed by the
lobby committee or that they nave
permanently made their retreat
Packed the Committees.
The policy of most of the special in
terests who have been working here in
Washington for years to shape lesis-
lation has been to large extent
that of trying to shape committees to
their liking. For instance, the N A
NJ. was active in trying to get its
friends on the house judiciary COM
rnittee and on the labor committee. Pro-
tected interests busted themselves try
ing to get their friends on the ways
and means committee. The railroads
have watched like hawks the interstate
commerce committees. Railroads con-
cerned in mail pay and handling of
the mails have watched the postoff1ce
committees. Interests concerned with
the public domain any phase of its
resources have tried to get their friends
on the public lands committee. and so
it has gone
Tt is not to be supposed this sort OF
thing is dead Nor is there any mon
opoIy of it within one party. The lob
by investigation is not going to pre-
vent it, but, for the present at least
with public feeling aroused, it is going
to be more difficult to put through
schemes for the leading committees so
as to promote or block legislation.
Senators and members of the house
have been put on their guard against
political danger there is in getting ex-
posed to- the charge of having yielded
to the lobby of any special interest.
lust now, at least the lobbyist or rep
resentative of a special interest who IS
irving to ply his trade in Washington
has hard shedding.
Petty Graft.
Another tendency of the lobby probe
is to intensity the opposition to petty
graft at the capitol. A good deal OF
extravaganza is being Topped off, as,
for instance, the luxury of the senate
bathrooms, against which Senator Joe
Rristow protested. The inquiry of the
So nate committee on contingent ex-
penses into the telegraph tolls which
senators are taxing to the public funds
is an indication that stricter views of
conduct are obtaining and are being
enforced.
one of these days the house will be
forced to give up that ancient and
widely-condemned system of graft
whereby it is made possible for a
house member to pocket all or part of
the clerk hire the government allows
him Incidentally, not a few former
members from Kansas pract1ced this
petty graft. The system will be es-
tablished of putting the clerks on the
rolls and having them, not the con-
gressmen, draw the salary. 1t will not
be made possible for member of the |
house to draw the full pay for clerk hire |
pocket part of it, and pay meager |
salary to some young woman or boy to |
do the members clerical work.
This sort of thing has been many |
times assailed as one of the pettiest |
and cheapest forms of graft about |
Washington. 1t still obtains, but, in !
the general upheaval of sentiment |
against whatever is questionable relat- |
ing to methods about the national leg |
islature it is doubtful if it can stand |
up much longer.
Taking it as a whole, this lobby in
vestigation will have a good effect in |
many directions to clarity conditions
at the national capital.