Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
OLDLOBBy ISSUE
+ MAY Be REVIVED
Shearer Inquiry Likely to
Cause Congress to Take
Eradicating Steps.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

INQUIRY into activities Of William b.
Shearer in connection with the failure
of the naval conference at Geneva In
1927 has already disclosed enough about
the shipbuilding lobby here to indicate
that the whole question OF lobbying
may be revived at the December ses-
sion of Congress.
Revelation that interests directly af-
fected by the passage of shipping legis-
lation spent approximately $4,000, OF
which S24, 900 went for hotel bills and
entertainment in order to further
project for q ship subsidy, will serve to
focus again the attention OF the Sen
ate and many proposals that have here
tofore been made to eradicate secret
influences.
DebatabIe Issue.
There is no disposition in Congress
to interfere with the rights of any cit
izen or group Of citizens to place their
arguments on any given proposal to
Congress. The right of petition Is
granted by the Constitution itself. But
the use of money improperly to s9nfu-,
ence Congress has always been subject
to criticism. The question: tss~iIzt IS
proper and improper. Most epnefs
OF Congress feel that, II expHndatnFess
are made public just as Is the case with
candidates for Office or political organ
izations, the public itself will be the
Judge as to whether or not excessive
amounts are being spent.
Many national movements have elab-
crate headquarters here and spend an
nualIy large sums, but the purposes are
considered legitimate because the meth
DDS are open and above board. There
has never been any material objection
to the circulation of pamphlets, printed
matter, advertising, etc, II the sponsors
frankly assume responsibility fer the
literature. The word "propa ganda" Is
commonly used now to deScribe writ,
ten material whose authorship is con-
cealed or articles appearing In publica-
tions of various kinds under the guise
of news which are really paid for by in
terests behind the particular cause be-
ing agitated.
There are all kinds of activities in
Washington. from those of the pstri-
otto societies to the advocacy of indi-
vidual claims In Congress. Most of the
organizations come out In the open in
their efforts to influence Congress and
rarely get into difficulties about it. IT.
dividual companies frequently place
their cases before Congress directly and
without the use Of intermediates or
secret agents or lobbyists. :. !. -.
Ever since the investigation of MIR
Shearer's case was begun there have
been suggestions that some Of the paci-
fist organizations also be scrutinized
and the sums of money they spend and
sources be infinitely examined. The diff
ference, OF course, Is that none of these
organizations as a rule has any connsC-
ton with interests that are seeking the
appropriation Of public funds, though
1t has been claimed every now and then
that foreign shipbuilding interest could
well afford to finance lobbys\ which
seek to prevent Federal aid to American
shipping or the construction Of larger
Navy. -
Crowded With Agents.
The National Capital is crowded with
agents and representatives of business
interests and national organizations
Members of Congress would be loatlne to
see all this eliminated, because in a
sense much of the information about
the true workings of proposed piece of
legislation are brought to the lrface
through the clash of rival interests. and
1t Is not uncommon for intimate rela-
tionships to be established between Or
CARNATIONS taking the same p,,int If
view on public questions as certain
members of Congress do. -
incidentally many of the organizatio
which have followed the practice OF
signing their own literature and coli-
filming their activities to public express
sion instead of secret influences have
made the most Roadway. ~,
(CopyriEht, 1927