The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1914-04-14
PAID LOBBY ! GONE.
ONE CONGRESSIONAL INVEST
CATION SEEMS TO HAVE
BEEN WORTH WHILE.
MANY OTHERS SEEM USELESS
John Sharp Williams Attacks Costly
"craze" for Inquiries and May
Have Been Spokesman for
the Administration.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

WdSuluSCOu"W uu6 Lie dCIlflt1OS
of the lobby investigating committee
have been more or less criticized, it
seems that they have produced re-
suits. Some few officials in Washing
ton continue to maintain, however,
that the lobby investigation was not
worth while. Some of them seem to
think it will prevent law abiding citi-
zens, simply through fear that they
may be called corruptionists, from
coming to Washington to plead for
or against legislation in which they
feel natural interest.
So far as can be learned, there
seems to be nothing to this line of
reasoning. The men who have hon.
est reasons to enter objection against
proposed legislation or to plead for
1t, seem to be just as willing to come
to the capital as ever they were. 1t is
true, however, that the men who lob
bied for pay and who used methods
not altogether commendable are no
longer in evidence. The corridors of
the capitol seem to be clean.
1t seems to be true, therefore, that
the lobby investigating committee has
done good work and has produced
condition which a good many men
would like to have seen produced
years ago. The question is sharp in
Washington, however, whether the ma.
jority of the inquiring activities OF
senate and house within the last three
fnIIr %
time and energy expended. Some of
the critics have called the series of
Inquiries government by investiga-
don." Has it paid?
Williams Calls 1t Craze.
Senator John Sharp Williams
Democrat of Mississippi, is saying
sharp things about what he seems to
think is an investigating craze Mr.
Williams says it has cost a lot OF
money and he apparently feels that
the results have not been common
surate with the cost In three years
about $1S0,000 have been spent in in
vestigating along various lines and
there are men Of all political shades
of opinion who say that the work has
not been as fruitful as 1t might have
been. Others, however, declare thai
no money spent in investigating sub
iects to which suspicion attaches car
be wasted.
Now there are investigations ant
Investigations Some of the inquire!
are forced by the very nature O
things, as for instance inquiries into
whether or not members of congress:
are rightly entitled to their seats.
There are other kinds of investiga
tons, however, which seem to spring
solely from the desire of some sena
tor or representative, who thinks tina
he has scented a TRAIL" to obtain /;
place in the limelight for himsel
which shall be held as long as tn,
investigation is in progress Whethe
he is to stay in the limelight or no
always depends upon the outcome o
the investigation. If 1t fails to pro
duce results he is likely to be over
Swallowed for the rest of his term, blu
if it proves to be public benefit tn,
VI S41O AhFC0bIGaI1OA
member is likely to remain fixed il
public attention.
Spokesman for President?
There are some Democrats, Repuh
licans and Progressives in house AM
senate who are urging that ipvestiga
tions shall be stopped unless a clea
case can be made in advance tina
strong evidence of an evil exists an,
that there is a real intention to roo
it out. President Wilson apparentl
Is not in entire sympathy with all tn
investigating activities of his part
| in house and senate.
1t is barely possible that Senate
Williams, unbeknown to his CO
leagues, has been the spokesman c
the administration when he charge
that a large percentage of the grea
sums spent for inquiry purposes hav
been used to little avail. Mr.. William
apparently wants his colleagues to n
member that economy is the Demo
cratic watchword.
Among the investigations whic
have been made within the last thre
years are that into the steel trust, a
inquiry which cost $4,000; that int
the sugar trust which cost $4,000, an
that into the money trust which cos
it is said, very large sum of none
although the expense account has NJ
yet been made up. Legislation ha
been enacted or is about to be el
acted to meet the situation which lie
to these Investigations. Some DEM
Gratis say the form Of the legislatio
has been changed in. no way by til
findings of the investigators in an
of these cases. In other words, Jul
about as much was known about til
concerns investigated before the Il
quiry was started as afterward.
There is wide difference Of OPT
ion as to the necessity of good man
of the investigations which have bee
made and probably no adequate pro'
ever can be adduced as to whetht
the money was well spent or III spen
but there seems to be general ten
ency in congress today to check tt
course of the Investigating strea
and not to allow 1t to flow again u
less inquiry shall show that the 4
| ie roufffrya nAeocaffv