New-York tribune., 1921-01-12
Capital Lobby
Denounced bv
Senator Kenyon
Washington Swarms With
Ernissaries of Special In.
terests, He Asserts; Even
Social Affairs Are Tainted
Registration Is Advised
Muscle Shoals Project Is
Said to Reek With Fraud.
Craft and Corruption

ton is "swarming with lobbyists" and
legislation ought to be enacted to re-
strict their activities, or at least COM
pei them to register at the Capitol be-
fore they seek to influence Congress.
according to Senator Kenyon of Iowa.
who spoke to-day in opposition to the
Muscle Shoals nitrate and water power
project. Senator Walsh, of Massachu-
setts, Democrat, and Senator Overman.
of North Carolina, Democrat, Joined in
expressing themselves in favor Of leg
islation.
Even the "social lobby" exists in
Washington, according to Senator Ken
yon, and the method of lobbying
through the giving of dinners, dances
and balls is favorite one. After
charging that the Muscle Shoals prof.
ect reeked with fraud and graft and
corruption" and that lobby was ac-
tive for it, Senator Kenyon vent into
the general subject of lobbying in the
national capital and the increasing
prevalence of it.
Il can confess to Il good deal Of sus
picion OF any bill that origjnates
around Muscle Shoals" said Senator
kenyon. "The proposition has been
fraught with fraud and graft and cor
ruptlon ever since the initiation of
the movement at Muscle Shoals, Any
one VINO reads the Graham report will
nave to agree that for graft and fraud
Hog Island is a piker compared wiz
Muscle Shoals. Here we are with this
proposition spending 100000 600 and
getting nothing. 1t is a shameful rec-
ord"
Lobby Active for Years
Senator Kenyon alleged that inter-
ests concerned in Muscle Shoals had
SUSTAINED lobby here for years.
Il do not Know where this LOBBYING
business is going to STOP" he said
Ihere are proper kinds of lobbies.
Nobody wants Congress to be shut off
here on the hill and have people un-
able TO get to the Capitol, but it is
Tieachlng point nowadays where
washington is swarming with lobbies
OF every kind and descripton-so some
good lobbies and some bad Hobbies.
not get through the corridors any
where without having some OF these
lobbyists talking to you about bills in
Congress-
There has been testimony before
committees of social lobbies in the
City Of Washington; OF gentlemen re-
ceiving funds from great interests 10
use in socia' lobbying. You can pick
up the papers every day and read of
dinners and dances and balls given
by the Lord knows whom--a favoritc
term Of lobbying in this City Of Wash
lngton. The records of our agricul-
tural committee show that very thing.
81 do not know that there is any way
of stopping that kind of lobby. but
there is existing now in the City OF
Washington, and it is going to grow,
lobbying of certain kinds in lumber
interests, oil interests and other big
interests. Men going out of the SEN
ate and men going out Of the House
join up with these lobbies. There is
going to be more of it in the days
to come. The general practice Of law
in Washington is coming TO be synony-
nous with general lobbying'
Registration Recommended
II have in my hand list of gentle
men, some OF whom are ex-members
Of Congress and ex-otficials of the
vernment, who are here in Washing
ton in the interest of oil, lumber and
the questions before the departments
licVe that in order to carry on legisa-
tlon in the months to come we ought
to shave some kind Of law against
lobbying. Kansas has that kind Of a
law, and [ think q number Of other
states Lave laws requiring the regis
tration OF lobbyists, statement Of
just whom the lobbyists rcpresent and
the fees that are paid them. Nobody
ought to object to that. Then when
they come before committee, when
they meet you in the halls, when they
meet you on your way home or sit
next to you on the street car and try
to talk to you about bills you know
who they are and what they represent.
Il have been informed on evidence
that | think reliable that one institu-
tion here in Washington doing lobby
ing business is paying out as much AZ
S250,O0O in fees a year. 1t would be
interesting when some one came from
this organization or that association to
speak to members of Congress on legis-
lation to know whether they were just
interested pro bono publico or whether
they were influenced by good sized
fees.
"But so far as this bill is concerned
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