Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-04-18
How does a lobbyist work?

INV NOSo q AObby Aoe WIN
Evidence presented today at
the Senate Foreign Relation
Committees hearing on the
ron diplomatic activities OF
Washington attorney John A,
ODonnell provides some illu-
minating examples.
Most of the evidence was in
the form of letters exchanged
between Mr.. O'Donnell, a one
time member Of the Philippine
War Claims Commission, and
the Philippine member of the
commission, Francisco Delgado,
The correspondence and other
evidence presented at the hear
ing indicated that Mr.. ODon-
nell's Washington activities
ranged from making campaign
contributions to members Of
Congress to making election
predictions and writing Con-
greSsmen's speeches.
The first letter. dated De-
cember 81, 1851, was from Mr..
Delgado to Mr.. O'Donnell. In it,
Mr.. Delgado reported that the
Philippine war damage claim
ants had organized and he
wanted to know If Mr.. O'Don-
nell would be free to assist in
getting legislation through
Congress to provide them with
more money.
Tells of Failure
"A February 9, 1852, letter
which was unsigned but was
obviously from Mr.. O'Donnell
to Mr.. Delgado said that Mr..
ODonnell had failed in his
effort to get a list Of 10000
claimants from the Treasury,
where the record had been
stored. Mr.. ODonnell wrote
that 1t is "regrettable that We
didn't make up this list before
we left the commission but it's
too late now"
On January 10, 1852, Mr..
Delgado reported that enthusi-
asm on the part Of the inter-
ested parties in the Philippine
Government had cooled off and
it was his opinion that "even
if the chances Of obtaining the
5000 million are not rosy this
year something must be done
there to keep up the interest Of
the administration on the
same, or otherwise probabilities
Of obtaining additional money
next year would be much less"
A January Is. 1854. letter
from Mr.. ODonnell to Mr..
Delgado said that the climate
for further war damages was
not good but he pointed out
that Vice President Nixor was
then touring the Far East and
should be pressed for an in
crease in war damage pay
ments. At the same time. Mr..
ODonnell predicted that "if
the election were tomorrow, the
Democratic Party would be
swept into office"
Refers to Miller
An october 81, 1855, letter
from O'Donnell TO Mr.. Del
gado begins the extensive refer
ences to Representative George
p. Miller. Democrat Of Califor-
mia. Mr.. O'Donnell told Mr..
Delgado that you and I know
we used Miller's services to
keep this alive" He said Mr..
Miller had great standing in
the House because OF his parti-
cipation in the original War
Claims Act.
In the same letter Mr.. O'Don-
nell protested the thought Of
injecting other lobbyists into
the picture" since he had
worked in the House and Sem
ate on the war claims project
for four years.
When Congress passed a bill
TO compensate the Philippine
scouts, Mr.. O'Donnell wrote
Mr.. Delgado on May Z, 1857,
that "the climate here has
greatly improved" and he added
that II am having Miller REIN
troduce the War Damage Bill.
which he will do in a few days"
Sees Action Unlikely
on March 10. 1858. Mr.,
ODonnell wrote Mr.. Delgado
that ut is not likely that any
action will be taken In the pres
ent Congress on the bill which
] drafted for introduction by
our friend. Mr.. Miller. How
ever. this is not 10 early 10
start thinking about putting
another bill at the opening OF
the new Congress in January"
In that letter Mr.. O'Donnell
predicted that the Democrats
would collect more seats In