Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-19
1oRBYING SHOULD BE CHECKED

The nractice of lobbying, which means
,;,,,nIl, The influencing of votes for or
AGAINST a measure pending before
ia%slafure. has become so pernlclous ~
.racent wears that solution OF some OIL
The problems which it suggests seems
HIGHLY desirable The present method OF
1obbyinq points clearly to two facts; one
that iniuuitous measures succeed because
of the failure of a systematic lobby Oh
behalf of the people to oppose them anu
the other, the failure OF worthy plils by
reason of the absence OF a LOBBY 10
speak for them or, which IS the same
thing the persistence OF those VINO are
Maid TO oppose any measure calculated
to promote the public welfare 1t
threatens their private interests.
A lobby seems to be a necessary adj
iunct to legislative body. This is as
equally true of law-making body as OF
q court or tribunal whose function it is
to determine the law. When new law
is proposed it will affect somebody's
rights or interests for good or for evil
tt is proper therefore, that an inquiry
into it's merits or real effect be made,
and that arguments, pro and con, should
be heard by those with whom final de-
cison rests.
Lobbying is not new institution. 1t
was as prevalent in the Roman senate as 1t
is in our own. Some of the ablest ora
tions of Cicero were directed against it. 1t is
as common in the European countries as it
is with us. England recognizes lobby
In that country an aggrieved party may
file what is termed a Petition of Right,
whereupon parliamentary committee
is selected to investigate. Hearings are
had on all bills whenever they are de-
manded by those promoting or opposing
them and the causes may be argued by
counsel representing each side.
1t should not be presumed that mem
Der of congress is informed upon all
matters coming before him and it is
natural that he should be amenable to
reason in those matters upon which he
is not informed. 1t is the method, rather
than the practice, which is open to criti-
book Through One Administration"
pointed this out. And as far back as
1875, measure was introduced in the
U. S. senate entitled "a Bill to Provide
for the Organization of Bar of the two
Houses of Congress-" for the purpose of
allowing attorneys to appear before COM
mittees of congress and present argu-
ments for or against any pending mea-
sure which might affect the rights of
their clients. In the main, the proposed
plan closely resembled the English sys-
TEN and seemed to hold remedy for the
evil. Its efficacy lay in the fact that it
insured the publicity of all proceedings
or hearings on public measures. A bill
similar to the one referred to would
meet the present requirements. 1t would
be necessary only to formulate modus
operandi; whether hearings shall be
held before special committees of both
houses or whether the hearings shall
constitute part of the regular legisla-
tive sessions. These are questions of
detail. The end is the thing! Men and
measures will stand or fall on their
merit. The Halls of Congress instead
of being a chamber of political corrup-
ton, will become an open forum where
in the voice of the people will be heard