The Wilmington morning star., 1947-08-02
Lobbyists
BY ARTHUR KROCK

wAsHINGToN-An effort is being made by
writers and others WHO were displeased with
the record of the EightietA Congress to rep
resent that body as having welcomed to
Washington the largest and most active lob
bies for special interests seen here in years
and having been unduly responsive to these
iobb!es.
Some who make the accusation wish prl-
marty to serve the Democratic admlnlstra-
ton, now that the President has aligned him.
self generally with its left-wing, to which
they also belong. Others sincerely believe that
agents of sinister or selfish groups were re-
sponsible Cor defeating legislation which they
believe to have been in the general interest,"
and for the passage of legislation wnlch tney
think was not. But whatever the animation
of the campaign, it is a timely service TO the
adrninlstra ton Democrats who blocked the
proposed Senate inquiry OF the Kansas Cl'y
vote frauds that was ordered by Attorney
General Clark.
Observers at the Capitol confirm the state
ment that lobbying with the Eightleth Con-
gress was the largest and most active in
wears. But that anything corrupt or even SIM
lister was accomplished ny AoS
NIT ststained in the record. The terms by
which rent controls were relaxed, making IL
noss1ble that tenants next March must agree
IN unlimited increases or he evlcted, certainly
seem to reflect the success o. a senlsn sPe.
cial interest. So did the wool bill that 1alleo
and the sugar import bill that passed. But an
impsrtial public jury would find 1t dl11lcult 10
form this conclusion on other Items With
tile sccusers have put in the same catesoly'
They also have failed to MENTION OF so-e.
pedaled the fact, that the most numerous anu
aative lobbyists were those opposed ~ coin e,
tive union labor legislation and those VINO
represented the administration itself. Since
the critics were generally in favor OF Wnat
these LOBBYISTS sought to achieve, their 1all-
IRE t., include them for criticism suggests an
ex parte view Of what it Is rlsnt 10 U.s.
pressure on Congress for. The conclusion they
leave is this: 1t is patriotism "hen union
labor lobbyists crowd the Capitol, ana some.
times employ threats, to prevent amendment
If III. wagner Act, and when government
officials fight all economies and turn on the
heat for administration measures. But II IS
sinister and even corrupt when representa-
tives of business organizations lobby Cor the
opposite result, and when members OF ooh-
gress resent official activities which, In 1ne
SHIT of some statutes could be called lllesal:
Very obvious reasons exist Tor the ln14uX o.
.l.hnVlStS 1neV always COllIC hSIS ~ 49,
when there is a change in the congressional
majority, or in the government as a Whole.
One group hopes to retain the advantages II
obtaired from those cast from power: the
other hopes to balance the equation. Arer
fourteen years. during which the parry IN
control OF the executive and legislative arms
built up the union labor monopoly. vastly eX-
banded the role Of government IN BUSINESS
and made ownership and management Its
W ,;rpi, o -hove ~ ie mot surprising that many
lob bvists appeared for redress. And some OF
them were invited by the new congressional
leaders for information and counsel
For example. it was charged by opponents
of the Hartley bill that a legal representative
O.. t>e National Association Of Manufacturers
assisted committee members in preparing the
bill. ard that is probably true. Similarly, Clo
agents helped committee opponents to hgnt
the r,easure: railroad representatives contrl'
buted to the Reed-Bulwinkle bill; and the
LOBBYISTS in the dispute over tax reduction
represented chiefly those who wanted 1t. But
the epponents of reduction did not need any
lobbyists because they were active partlcl-
pants in the battle. as members OF Congress
and Of the administration. No lobby can nope
tc match the strength of q presidential velo'
which automatically cancels the votes OF III
teen Senators and seventy-two Representa-
tives
The Reed-Bulwinkle bill (Which passed the
Senat. but not the House) came in for special
attic ok as the objective Of a highly sinister
lobby. But this merely provided that, when
railroads make freight rates in concert with
the approval Of the Interstate
Commission. they shall not be subject to anti
trust prosecution. This principle has been en-
dorsed by citizens of great integrity. and it
has Keen opposed by citizens Of equal integ-
rity. There is no stigma fairly to be attached
&c erlher group.
The usual farmers Hobbies were on hand;
repre- e~ntatives of veterans organizations
we're not diminished in numbers or assiduity;
and even the advocates of national temper
ance laws, not excluding prohibitionists, wore
out congressional buttonholes. But this is per
1ectly open and legal, and the only test Of
whether it is corrupt or selfishly group-angled
is the legislative product.
This product bore very slight traces OF be-
ing the work Of bad as contrasted with
"gooc'' lobbies by any sensible classification.
The sr~ar import bill, denying the benefit of
inc; ICED quotas to nations that have refused
to pay a private debt in the United States.
carried out the wishes of private creditors in
this country. Doubtless a lobby worked ac-
lively for it's passage. But the example is not
typical Of the general record. - New York
Times.