Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-15
Am Other States and Canada.
A Lot of Wasted Sugar.

Study Of the Senate committees re-
port on sugar lobbying invites the
natural conclusion that the so-called
hard-headed business men who shelled
out a total Of approximately 100000
to promote or defeat a higher tariff on
sugar are in reality a bunch of sapS.
For they apparently wrote their checks
and made them payable to willing
workers on the unfounded claims of
what these willing workers could do
The contingencies received small con-
sideration. Hard cash was paid for
claims and, in the light Of searching
investigation, some Of the claims were
empty gestures.
But after all, were the lobby hirers
such saps? 1t would be foolish to claim
that legislation has never been influ-
enced by lobbying. 1t would be foolish
to claim that no lobbyist was ever
worthy of his hire. It would be foolish
to believe that skilled presentation Of
facts to members of Congress, great
gobs Of propaganda and floods Of organ
4HCu puUl4CAOy nave AACNCA AACARSA w
grease the ways for legislation. And
II these things are granted, and they
must be, the Cuban sugar grower Is
not to be called a sap because he was
willing to risk several thousand dollars
in combating of the work Of the beet
sugar grower, who, in turn, was willing
to risk several thousand dollars in COM
batting the work of the Cuban sugar
grower. They would more likely deserve
the title of saps if they were not willing
to risk the money, for the stakes are
high.
AS for the methods Of the lobbyists
themselves-their high-sounding claims
Of acquaintance with the President Of
the United States and the implication
that this acquaintance was worth
money; their willingness to go to the
extreme of fostering hostility to the
United States by friendly countries to
bring pressure on pending legislation;
their tall talk regarding the possession
Of highly confidential" Government
memoranda and plans-these are seri-
GUS reflections on business ideals and an
enlightening commentary upon the at
titude Of business, some business, toward
the sanctity Of government in Wash
tngton.
And It Is the exposition Of these
methods and these claims that has
made the Investigations Of the Caraway
lobbying committee 50 valuable. The
facts revealed concerning the high
prices paid for lobbying are not ex-
traordinary. Successful lobbying is
worth high price to the benefciaries.
Paying the price demanded is merely
good gamble. But it is 10 be doubted
II any professional lobbyist in Washing
ton is going to write any more letters
within the near future regarding his in
timacy with the President Of the United
States. his ability to obtain inside in
formation regarding the plans Of the
Government or his access to the secret
files of Government establishments.
Such letters have become boomerangs
with q nasty sting. 1t Is one thing to
boast in private Of ones influence. 1t
Is another to have the boast exposed.
Out of these lobby hearings there
may come the passage Of legislation,
futilely sought In former sessions, pro-
Hding for the proper registration Of
lobbyists and tending to encourage open
lobbying, openly arrived at. Such legisla-
ton may help. But 1t might be better
policy to have a lobbying investigation
committee sitting throughout the ses-
sions Of Congress, before which lobby
lists would be invited to appear and de-
clare themselves. Such a committee
would provide the lobbyists with fine
publicity. And it would assist the en-
ployers Of the lobbyists to test their
claims before writing out the checks.
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