A " LOBBYING " INQUIRY.
Precipitated by the Shearer revelations, the Senate Judiciary Committee's decision to investigate the whole subject of Congressional lobbying meets a long-standing demand and is widely applauded. The appointment of Senators T. J. Walsh, Borah, J. C. Blaine and Caraway as members of the investigating sub-committee is seen as a guarantee that the inquiry will be searching. While covering a wide field, the investigation is unlikely to be much concerned with individuals or organizations whose work is done in the open. But an attempt is to be made to bring to light the activities of agents who work indirectly, and hide the sources of their financial support. Particular attention is to be given to tariff lobbying. The Senators also intend to expose some lobbyists to their own clients. Claiming influence, which in fact they do not possess, with Congressmen, journalists and other prominent personages, a host of lobbyists is said to be trading upon the gullible, extracting large fees from them and giving negligible services in return. Exposure alone may effectively discredit these agents, at any rate for a time. The sub-committee, however, is also counted upon to suggest legislative means to regulate all lobbying activities in the future. Compulsory registration of lobbyists and the publication of their financial receipts and expenditures is proposed, but there is a difference of opinion as to the adequacy of such remedies.
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