The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1935-05-02
lobbyists Active

lobbyists Active
Washipgton-M ado is BEING
made around Washington again
over lobbyists. It is true that there
are now perhaps more lobbyists in
Washington than at any time In
the last fifteen years. 1t is true they
are influencing legislation, and ]
think it can be said without fear OF
contradiction that lobbyists are re-
sponsible for portion of the balk-
ing tactics in congress. =. 81
Existence of this unusual condi-
ton In Washington carries more
significance, however, than just
the fact that special interests or in
diyidual interests are trying to pro-
tect themselves. From a good many
sources I gather the opinion that
the condition means the Presi-
dents power has weakened.
It is to be remembered that when
MIR. Roosevelt carried his New Deal
into the White House and led the
largest Democratic majority ever to
control the national legislative body
that very fact thwarted lobbying
Very few of the so-called special in
hole individual representatives or
senators to plead their cause.
These representatives and senators
were looking to White House lead
erShip; their fate rested on the New
Deal, and they were unable accur-
ately to gauge what public senti-
ment would be if they openly dis
agreed with Presidential orders. In
those days, the corridors of the Cap
itol and the house and senate office
buildings were virtually deserted of
petitioners that is what a lob
byist is.
To the extent that lobbyists oper-
ated in the early days of the Roose-
welt administration, they sought to
influence Presidential decision and
the activities of the brain trust and
underlings who drafted the Presi-
DENTAL programs. Once these pro-
grams had been submitted to con-
gresS, the opposition to them large
~ subsidized and members jumped to
the crack of the Presidential whip
As stated above, individual members
were drafted to go against White
House orders and lobbyists were
afraid to combat the Presidents
popularity.
But a year ago, various interests
throughout the country began to
sense feeling that they could
again talk with members of con-
greSS safely. They began organic
Ing their representations here as
they formerly had enjoyed, and lit
tie by little broadened the scope of
their activities. A singular part
about the present condition is the
mushroom growth of the lobbyists.
Supplementing their growth has
been an unusual fearlessness. They
are busy pushing all kinds of causes
good and bad.
Some forces estimate there are
close to five hundred different
groups and organizations actively
petitioning congress to do this or
that according to their lights. There
are such gigantic Hobbies as that of
organized labor agriculture and the
American Legion. There are Hobbies
for religious and racial groups. The
power interests at the moment bulk
large with their lobbying activities.
Individual lines of industry have
their representative here in num-
bers. The railroads, for example,
have headquarters here for tlleif
Association of American Railroads
and it is also the headquarters for
the Shortline Railroad association.
The bankers maintain a legislative
committee Of the American Bank
ers' association here, and even the
scientific groups have their people
treading water in the halls of con-
greSs, watching and waiting to be
sure that nothing detrimental to
their interest is done by the legis-
lators.
Sees Power Waning
1t will be recalled that several
weeks ago Mr.. Roosevelt let loose
one OF the bitterest messages he has
ever sent to congress In denuncia-
ton OF the activities Of the power
lobby. AT that time, the vicious
character Of his accusations against
the power interests was attributed
by many observers to his intense
feeling that public utility holding
companies should be abolished. He
felt that cliques Of financiers were
taking advantage of innocent in
estors and he wanted to tell the
country about it.
Now, however, 1t develops that he
was hooting not only at the power
group but at all so-called special
interests which were seeking to pro-
tect themselves from what they re-
garded as fragrant violations of
property rights of the established
IN