The Washington herald., 1919-03-16

ihe corriuors OF the Capltoi aDoue loiy
years ago, promoting various lesisla-
tive projects. The most spectacular of
these was Rose Grey, of Chicago. who
was Familiarity know as queen OF the
lobby" 1t is said she cleaned up many
thousands of dollars in the notorious
credit-mobilier act, which caused such
profound sensation throughout the
nation and resulted disastrously to
number of prominent men. Miss Grey
was described by one of the Washing
ton newspapers as 'radiantly beauti-
full and the, most stylishly attired wom-
an who ever came to the Capital"
She was accompanied on her visits TO
the Capitol by very pretty girl with
auburn ringlets, whom Miss Grey term
/ ed her valet. When the credit-mobilier
scandal became acute this dashing
woman disappeared from Washington,
, and is said to have lived thereafter in
regal style in one of the European cap
itals. Her home on X street during
her lobbying career was the scene of
almost nightly entertainments and was
attended by many of the noted men OF
that period.
An UnseInsh Lobbyist.
Perhaps the most unique woman
lobbyist was the late Mrs. Charlotte
Smith, also a beautiful woman. Her
activities before Congress, however,
were never of a sordid character. She
was n humanitarian and lobbied with.
out price or pay for the betterment
of her sex. Mrs. Smith was par
ticularly active in presenting measures
for the ameliora ton of working wom-
en- and those who were unfortunate.
She was a potent >power for good,
and being possessed of a splendid
personality, she had little dificulty
in rallying to her causes men of in
fiuence. She was particularly popu-
lar with the members of the press
gallery. whom she endearingly referred
to as my boys" Much of the legis-
lation adopted by Congress favorable
to women was due to her unselfsh
efforts.
Tried to Enter Senate.
A picturesque woman lobbyist was
Mrs. Virginia Marburg, who scantily
attired as the goddess of liberty. and
bearing a silk flag. attempted to In
wade the Senate chamber to make a
speech in behalf of a measure in
which she was interested. She was
held up by Capitol policemen as she
reached the Senate portico. and pre-
vented from interrupting in her flow
ing robes the dignity OF the Senate.
Two Texans who were familiar fig
ures in Washington and were known
as lobbyists were the late Tom Ochil-
tree and Col. John Murphy. OF
Brownsville. Ochiltree had served a
term as Representative and claimed
that he was the only native-born
Texan ever elected to Congress. He
spent much OF his time at Chamber
lain's. on Fifteenth street, and was
known as an authority on poker.
Col. Murphy Irish spnninrd.
Col. Murphy was a quaint character.
and his most notable accomplishment
was in successfully lobbying what was
known as the Fort Brown claim"
which netted many thousands of dol
lars for the descendants of the orig
inal owners of the Fort Brown res
ervation on the Rio Grande River op-
posite the Mexican town of Mata-
moras. Col. Murphy was an ardent
advocate Of publicity. and courted the
friendship of the men of the press
gallery. 1t was a saying that he could
speak Spanish like a Spaniard. but,
having A very decided Kerry brogue.
his rendition of Spanish with an Irish
accent was a source of amusement to
his Mexican clients.
Col. Murphy was found dead in
his apartments in the old Thompson
Law Building. G street between
Seventh and Eighth streets north
west. three months after he had
mysteriously disappeared from his
usual haunts. He died suddenly at
night while sitting bolt upright in
chair. It was learned that he
equipped at his own expense a rcgi-
ment OF Ohio troops in the civil
war, and the Grand Army of the
/ Republic of this city took charge OF
| his remains and gave them honor
/ able burial with military ceremon-
! ials at Arlington.
Lobbied with Apples.
! A local lobbyist presented himself
to various members of Congress
nearly every day for ten years, en-
deavoring to secure the enactment
of a private claim in which he was
personally interested. He was a
most persistent fellow. and by way