Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27

Whatever Senator Norris lobby in
vestigatinR committee finds in the way
of LOBBYISTS, 1t is a foregone conclusion
that no revelations will equal In ro-
mantle picturesqueneSs such SITUATION
as existed in the last century. Althougn
there is more money in LOBBYING now
adayS than ever before, there Is not nan
as much fun and the glamour has gone
from the game. Instead OF being car
ried on in a high, wide and handsome
manner, the profession has fallen vic
tim to the efficient StodginesS OF the
machine age There is no more mag
nificent swashbuckling.
For example, there is no such place
in Washington any more as Pendieton s.
Just after the Civil War there STOOD
down on Pennsylvania avenue not far
from the Capitol a place known as Pen
dleton's Game Rooms. It was nick
named the Hall of the Bleeding Heart
and was the meeting place OF what was
known as 1.-The third house" OF Con-
gress-a body consisting OF Lobbyists
Pendleton was scion OF an arlStocratlc
Virginia family and knew how to Go
things. He had the richest and sound
est wine cellar in Washington:
Ben Perley Poore. an early washington
correspondent, in his "Reminiscences"
wrote concerning Pendletons: the
people who nightly assembled to see
and to take part in the entertainments
of the house consisted of candidates
for the presidency, Senators and Repre-
sentatives, members of the cabinet, edi-
tors and journalists, and the master
workmen Of the third house, the lobby.
Pendleton's in its palmiest days might
have been called the vestibule OF the
lobby. It's most distinguished profess
sors might be found there. They lent
money to their clients when the animal
scratched too roughly-that Is to say
when the play ran against them and
they become broke, as they sometimes
did. Pendleton himself was an operator
In the lobby. His professional posltlon
gave him great facilities. He assisted
In the passage OF many uselul onis ot
private nature involving considerable
sums OF money. A broker in parlia-
mentary notes is an inevitable retainer
when Pendleton died, President
Buchanan attended his funeral ana
members Of Congress were his pail
bearers.
The Credit MObilier.
Pendleton's mantle fell upon Sam
Ward. who openly claimed for himself
the title of King Of the Lobby. Indeed
when his name was engraved on Sn-
yer cup being presented 10 retlrng
Speaker Of the House, he SUBSCRIBED
himself REX vestiari." He was man
OF culture and ready wit and, best OF
an, ready money, which always was
at the disposal Of members OF Congress
who found themselves in need OF FUNDS
at embarrassing moments. His din
ners were famous for cuisine and con-
versation and never lacked as guests
the most distinguished legislators In
Washington.
Cornelius Wendell was another ia
nous lobbyist, one Of the organizers
Of the famous whisky ring.
One Of the biggest scandals OF the
seventies was the Credit Mobfier. This
company was awarded the contract for
the construction Of the Union Pacific
Railroad, the first transcontinental
line, which was fostered almost entire
" by Government money and land
grants. Stock in the company was de-
Iivered by lobbyists, who assisted in
getting the necessary legislation passed,
to members Of Congress who supported
the measures. The Credit Mobiier
made O profit Of $23 900 900 out OF these
favors. One Senator was recommended
for expulsion, but was permitted 70
serve out the brief remaining weeks OF
his term and two Representatives were
censured by the House for direct COM
plicity.
bies fail to include women. Romance
would have been as incomplete as an
international spy story without beau
tiful woman. Poore writes In his
"reminiscences: "Some Of them are the
widows of officers Of the Army and