Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-05

Facts disclosed in connection with the
Shearer activities have opened up the
whole question Of lobbying. and Ameri-
can opinion strongly inclines to the
position that all such Efforts should be
In plain view OF the public. Certain
effect on legislators. Much is said In
favor of proposed licensing measures
which have been advocated In recent
years.
1.-THE situation in our National Capital
should have immediate and searching
consideration" declares the Milwaukee
Journal, referring to typical instances
Of the intensified and hidden efforts
that are being made In many quarters
to influence the activities of Congress. >, !"
The journal continues: THAT they
are pernicious Is obvious. How per-
nicious they are and to what extent
they have gone only q complete investi-
CATION can reveal. 1t is EVIL
dent that professional lobbyists. driven
from Washington in Woodrow wilson's
days, again are swarming like locusts In
the Capital. They again have become
ut IS getting 50 that nothing goes
through Congress any more without the
aid Of lobby" contends the Worcester
Evening Gazette. Good measures and
bad. 1t appears, must have Hobbies to
work them through, and somebody must
pay the lobbyists. This is an evil-a
serious evil. No effective method of
dealing with it has yet been discovered.
But II we are going to deal with 1t, the
first step Is to learn Just how these
how they produce their effects upon
Congressmen. It is particularly desir-
able to get this information in the case
of the ShiuninR lobby"
THE interests which profit from Gov
eminent action" contends the Portland
Oregon Journal. ARE always there in
force when the Government Is consider
ing action. With all those interests
swarminR down on Congress and spend
ing huge sums Of money to attain their
detectives. isn't 1t important that the
their stand In the public interest? Isn't
1t important that the public know what
Is going on in the National Capital, in
order that 1t may safeguard its rights
and privileges and meet the onslaught
Of special irterests?"
"Ohio some time ago." recalls the Co
lumbus Ohio State Journal, saw the
ACCESSIBILITY Of law covering the activi-
ties of lobbyists In connection with the
sessions Of the General Assembly. That
law has been in effect for several years
has reason, therefore, to believe that a
similar law would be beneficial as well
as practical in Washington. No lobby
with legitimate interests to serve will
object to such regulation, while q law
Of that kind will tend to discourage
| vicious and self-seeking lobbyists. Con-
gress has the power to take such step
and the present situation supplies the
opportunity for making up the def
| cheney"
The conviction that 1.-THE spectacle OF
the third house In Washington Is not
o comfortable spectacle" is voiced By
| the Kansas City Times, with the fur
ther comment: Every State IL repre-.
sented In Congress by two Senators and
its full quota Of Congressman. Com
bined, these representatives compose q
large body, large enough. We should say,
to transact the Nations legislative busi-
ness, with the aid Of experts and such
representatives OF affected business as
they might choose; to call upon or "a
might be permitted, on their own initia-
while it may be Impossible to
abolish Hobbies, It is not impossible, and
1t Is very important that they should
be duly identifled and their functions
understood. This does not do away with
the evils Of high-preSsure lobbying, but
~ ScEvcB 70 ulnke LtkcLu less.
Registration Of lobbyists" In the
opinion Of the Chicago Daily News
would discourage the vicious practice
! Of 'accelerating' legislation by the ex-
penditure Of large sums Of money. Every
dollar expended In lobbying" advises
that paper, Should be accounted fol
and the sources from which lobbyists
draw financial support should be made
known. Unreasonable partisansl1ip and
factionalism. also blocs and alliances
serving special interests, quite sum.
ciently mar legislation in modern
democracies No third house, no invisi-
! BILE government, Is desirable Any meas.
ure which cannot Withstand the lieh,
/ Of day ought to be defeated"
I'VE have no doubt that II restrictive
legislation 10 enacted by. Congress Il
1 VIII hold corporations respcnsihle FOL
such activities, even though minor and
jover1ealosis oznciAls may be responsible
eays the caattanoce4 News. Aemedlei