Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1922-11-23
TARIrF INVITES LOBsYIsrs.
Horde Of Smooth Individuals Expect.
to Infest Washinxton.

to Infest WashIisten.
According to the Dearborn Inde-
pendent, q lobbyist, who has piled
his trade in Washington since the
early days OF the tariff that recently
became law OF The land, lately had
this to say: Two months ago my
mind was made up to leave Washing
ton Immediately upon the tariff bill
becoming a law, but the special pro-
Vision in the act giving the president
authority to raise or lower any rate
in the bill not 70 exceed SO per cent
the rate. CARRIED lin the bill, and 70
apply the American valuation -plan.
opens up such rich field that /
have decided to remain indefinitely. "
This man advised a friend to get
busy and make few connections
with interested concerns in the Unit
ed States and go into the lobbying
BUSINESS assuring him that. during
the years during which the tariff act
Will be in effect will be the richest
and most fruitful in the history of
tariff lobbying at the national capi.
tai.
But It probably will not be SO easy
ar that, for tariff lobbying has
changed from the coarse methods Of
decade ago. when whiskey and wine.
dinners and dollars, and women and
witchery brought home the bacon for
the lobbyists. Those old, raw and dis
reputable days are past. Tariff lob
Lying is now one OF the fine arts, ex-
cept that none Of the other fine arts
Is quite SO lucrative. -.
The flexible" tariff arrangement
places decisions as to increases or
decreases In rates in the hands OF
the Federal Tariff commission and
the president Of the United States.
and they will be subjected to the
wiies, smiles, importunities and ar
guments OF the lobbyists, and this sit
uation will require a smoother and
mere expert individual to deal with
them than with senator's and repre-
sentatives ION the hill"
1t will not be q wholesome specta-
cie-this thing of flock OF lobby
ists soliciting the president and the
Federal Tariff commission, tor Il
may be expected that additional
sWartns OF specialists and experts In
various chemical, industrial and 9TH
or lines win be found berlnanentfy
camDed In Washington. after the
k'ordney Mcoumber tariff act shall
have gotten into full operation. as the
flexible" provision in that act opens
up possibilities hitherto undreamed
OF.
II may be OF interest tn attemnt IN
learn Just what lobbyist is. and in
the pursuit OF this information let us
go back to 1913, when the Underwood
tariff bill was being considered and
when exhaustive hearings were had
before the senate judiciary commit
tee on the maintenance OF lobby
to influence legislation"
Every member OF the United states
senate at that time appeared before
the committee and each was subject.
ed TO set OF questions in the form
OF o printed questionaire. One of the
questions WAS as follows: What do
you mean by the word lobby and
ioobying'?
Senator Ashurst, Democrat, OF Ari--
zena said that "the lobbyist who
makas it his business to live in or
stay about Washington for the pur-
Dose OF influencing legislation. max
ing his living in whole or in part. is
the most odious." He divided thenf
INTO three distinct groups, the "occa-
sicnais the professional" and the
Legitimate" !"
Senator Borah, progressive Repub-