South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-01-29

The lobby bill. passed first by the
house. then by the senate. with
amendments is. assuming a lobby bill
is at all necessary. perhaps one of the
best that has been passed by any state
in the country. House concurrence
in the senate amendments, and the
signature of the governor. is. of
course. necessary 60 complete the
performance. The house by passing
the original committed itself TO the
principles. which the senate amend
ments only carry a bit farther.
There is nothing particularly wrong
in saying. as the senate has. incident
TO the measure, that a newspaper that
advocates bill or the defeat OF
bill. for hire, should mark it's advo-
cacy as paid and disclose the source
OF payment. Such advocacy is lob
bying for hire, as much so as in the
case OF the representatives Of a spec
iai interest. who operates as a 1egisla-
tive counsel or legislative agent.
We also approve of the amendment
that forbids state officers or employees
from lobbying for hire; likewise
chairmen of political committees.
There are a lot of good things, about
this bill, if any of them are good, and
it develops upon investigation that
the senate amendments have provid-
ed some Of the best OF them.
1t is not true. however. as some
opponents of the measure have main
tanned that everybody who talks to
legislator or committee about
bill must register as a legislative
counsel or agent, and carry a card. It
is the man who influences legislation.
one way or the other, for hire. and
he only. that is hit The man who
hires him must pay a fee Of 50 and
register him. and announce the pUr-
pose Of his employment. That fee. TO
our mind is Unreasonable, if not un-
necessary. The purpose of the law is
10 keep tab on the men who influence
legislation for a compensation, and by
requiring reports. put a curb on eX-
penditures of money. rather than for
the state to make money out of it.
Employees. OF the assembly, whether
elective or appointive, and newspaper
men having the privilege of the floor
are the only peopi we can see from
the BILL who are forbidden to pro-
mote legislation by personal soIicita-
ton, with or without price
The individual citizen, the officers
of corporations and associations. and
people personally interested in pend
ing measures. are. with the excep-
tions above mentioned. just as free te
promote OF oppose legislation as they
ever were. save that they must do it
personally and not by a hired proxy
There are possibilities too. that the
bin will serve 10 elevate the tone of
the position of lobbyist. since he will
lose that epithet through the Iegaliza-
ton Of his employment, and become
known for exactly what he is doing.
Since the bill has been whipped INTO
shape for comprehension. and bids so
fair TO become a law. il does not after
ali, look SO bad for the man who
works to protect the interests of a
client. in legislative matters. even FOR
a compensation, so long as he pur-
sues his course in a legitimate man
ner.
The pretense of the opponents of
the bin. some OF them, that it would
shut of the risht of the individual
citizen. or corporation official. from
appearing i'm behalf of or against
legislation of personal concern TO him.
seems to have been the expression of
a wish rather than of fact The
wish was advanced. apparently in the
hope that it would Kill the measure.
but also, il may be. Inn regret that il
was not true-for such an undertake
ing would most surely have proven
unpopular when once reduced TO
practice. The principle remains that
ordinarily "a man can do by hired
agent what he might do himself, and
exactly why particular restrictions
should he laid in matters pertaining
10 legislation. may look hay. and does
present an argument earryins with il
some merit 1t seems. however. that
these legislative counsellors and
agents may have 10 find their consola-
ton in the fact that for their So they
are 10 have a more euphouious title.
and their business being recognized
by law as legitimate. they can look
the world square in the face. and need
not be ashamed of their jobs.
UNSURPASSED.
OF interest TO the ever increasing