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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 6, 1901)
'PTTU T T I T Tornn a mnt t- .Inminry 0, 1001. Men Who Shine in Lobby of Congress Washington has not In a generation been overrun bo with poisons Interested In push lug or preventing legislation as now, ro ports tho Now York Ilctuld. This is the Bhort scsfclon of tongrods preceding tho bo ginning of President McKlnley's .second term. All of tho plans that havo been laid for great schotr.ej In connection with the expansion of tho American nation fol. owing tho war with Spain aio beginning to sprout. It Is no new thing to see promotora of legislation coming hero by tho carload, but It Is a now thing to see them coming literally by tho trulnload. A tralnload of browers arrived here during tho first week in Decorator. At tho same time a dozen tralnloads of members of tho Woman's Christian Temperunce union arrived. Tho brewers camo to havo tho war tax tukon off beer. They constituted what is known as tho be or lobby. Tho ladles of tho Woman's Christian Temperance union camo to keop tho tux on beer and abolish tho army caulocn. Thoy wcro known as tho nntl-Jobby. A tralnload of bankers camo on Decora bor 8, beaded by A. II. Hepburn of New York, Myron T. Ilcrrlck of Cloveland and J. II. Eckels of Chicago. Thoy desired tho tax on bunkors and brokors remitted. Men representing steumshlp lines aro hero In BUOlclont force to maka high-priced suites In tho hotels hard to obtain. Representatives of tbo oleomargarine manufacturers of tho west, all of thorn look ing fat, slock and oily, aro holding forth In tbo corridorB of tho hotels and besieg ing tho room of tho agrlculturo comnilttco of tho scnato. Hearty looking citizens with wcatberLoateu faces and a heavy tread In dicating cowhide boots at homo aro watch ing those samo oily gentlemen. Thoy of tho woathorboaton foaturcs aro tho repre sentatives of tho National Dairymen's as sociation, and might bo known as tho antl olcomargarluo lobby. Tbcso aro a few of tho Interests repre sented here. Clustering around the one subject of an lntcroccaulc canal on which tho government will spond $200,000,000 aro ablo and versatile agents of a half dozen dlfforont "vested rights," Some of them leprcsent tho l'acitlo railroads, others are looking after tho Maritime Canal company that onco had a concession from Nicara gua; still others, If thoy wore to divulge tholr paymasters, would be found repre senting tbo l'uuamu Canal company. There aro agonts of tho French government and the Hussion government on hand and In terests aro so Interwoven that frequently three or four of theso different lullucnces aro found working toward one end. These, collectively speaking, muko up the anti canal lobby. Tboro Is an army and navy lobby, and that, llko tho poor, "Is always with us." Tho secretary. of war wants one bill, tho general commanding tho army wiuub an other; tho lino pulls In one direction, tho staff In another. Makers of patent guns and patent shollB, manufacturers of armor plate, and builders of battleships, promo ters of private claims, seekers for Inerensos In salary, commercial bodlcB that want their homo crook deepened and delegations from Interior towns that do in a nil n now postofllco all of theso elements contrive to inako tho short congressional session a continual round of dodging and yielding to tho lobby. .v KIiik of the l.ulilt)-. There havo boon changes since tho old days when tho famous Samuel Ward and Dr. It. Uruco Ilrndford wcro tho acknowl edged leaders In promoting legislation. If any ono can bo culled "the King of tho Lobby" now It Is probably Colonel v. 12. Ayros. Colonol Ayrcs has boon ono of tho moat successful members of the "Third IIouso." Ills llfo la a romance. Whon ho came to Washington, In tho neighborhood of twonty years ago, ho wns in desperate straits financially. Ho him self tolls tho story how, not having street car faro In his pockot, ho walked miles to tho Washington and Georgetown car stables In order to apply tor a position as con ductor. Ho Is now very rich. Colonol Ayres for years has ropro scntod tho Union Pacific railroad In con gress. Ho was long known as a personal friend of Charles Francis Adams. Whon he becamo versed In all tho Ins and outs of legislation ho succeeded to the task of piloting tho famous McQarrnghan claim. Sam Wnrd had It boforo Ayrcs. It had boon dragging its slow length along In congreBB for many years. A day, a few years ago, tho whole capital was convulsed with ostonlshment. Tho Mcdarraglmn claim had passed, but was vetoed by tho president. A well known representative of corpora tions Is John Boyd. Mr. Boyd is a medium sized man, dresses much llko a parson, with vory bright oyes set In a very small bend. Tho slzo of hat Mr. lloyd wears Is no Index to his abilities. Mr. lloyd In the d:iys of reconstruction hold a small position in tho houso of representatives. Ho attracted tho attention of tho lata Charles Torrlll, who, until his death, represented the lato Collls I. Huntington. When Mr. Torrlll died Mr. lloyd succeeded him, and he Is now the Bontlnol on guard for the Finithern Tactile nnd Central Pacific railroads. Tho Southern Paclllc road has for many years succeeded In obstructing tho Nica ragua canal. Mr. Huntington was tho In splratlon of tho operation, but Mr. lloyd was tho genius that made It effective. Mr Doyd emphatically denies that tho Southern Pacific road Is objecting to tho Nicaragua canal now. All tho samo tbo Nicaragua canal Is In trouble, even It Mr. Doyd doesn't know why. Colonel Tom Ochlltrco will bo horo with his funny stories In a short time. No ses sion of congress would bo completo without the Texas colonel. A personal friend of John W. Mackay, known of all men for his genial wit, ho knows everything that Is going on, and is particularly versed in the desires of cablo companies. Another colonel Is Samuel Donclson, a former confederato olllcer. This colonol Is as well known In Now York as ho Is In Washington, and bo Is usually on tho lookout for tbo welfare of tho LouIbvIIIo & Nashvlllo railroad. All of tho largo shipbuilding Arms that do work for tho government havo their repre sentatives hero. Thoy must bo men of ability and address. Tho best known Is aoncral George II. Williams, who Is now in Turkey, looking after tho famous contract with tho sultan, through which tho Ameri can missionary claim Is to bo paid. Gen eral Williams looks after tho work for the Cramp brothers. The Ciiiitueu Content. Old-time lobbyists opened tholr oyes a few days ago In astonishment whon thoy heard that tho house of representatives had knocked out of tho army bill tho canteen clause. Thoy wcro more astonished when they fo'uud that this had been tho work of ono man Inllucnced by a largo number of determined women. Tho man Is Ho v. Dr. Krafts, a Congre gational preacher. Dr. Krafts Is tho enemy of tho saloon In national politics and 1b always on guard at tho national capltol. Dr. Krafts' business 1b exushing tho demon rum in legislatures, whether they bo local, Btato or national. His efforts havo made whole states adopt tho policy of prohibition. His work has been effectlvo In Illinois, Kansas, Maryland and Georgia. When tho Hawaiian legislation was up ha was hero pressing restriction on tho liquor trafllc In that territory. Ho seems to represent all of tho national temperance soclotlos. Ho has a houso at 210 Delaware avenuo, near the capltol. Ho appears boforo com mittees, waylays congressmen in tho cor ridors, sends for thorn on the floor and visits them at tholr homes. Ho is a very thin, sparo man, rathor caro less of his attire, like ail Intense reform ers, but men who aro successful In their calling, as Dr. Krafts has been, can afford to bo careless In their attire. Ho rides a bicycle and his nether extremities excite nmuBomcnt when he goes Hashing through the corridors with bicycle clips around his small ankles. A quiet little man, with a faco bronzed by years of exposuro to tho Bait air, takes his lunch In tho houso restaurant every day. He never seoms to have much to say nnd never seems to bo doing anything except looking on. YotthtBinnu for six years has balllcd all of the efforts of tho combined shipping Interests of tho United States to abolish compulsory pilotage. Ho Is Cap- tain J. Edward O'Brien of Pensacola, Fla., president of tho National Pilots' aesocla- tlon. Tho pilots havo a closo organization nnd for years tho great steamship lines havo been Booking to havo compulsory pilot- ago abolished. Thoy havo boon outman- euvored by Captnln O'Urlen overy tlmo and havo como to respect him as a worthy foo- man. William It. Corwlno of New York Is vory 1. I.. ..-.1.1.... .- ... 11. 1. I . w iiiulu ui uviuuuuu iii tviiBuiiigiuu. aiv. jor- wlno Is an old Now York newspnpor man, with Wall street training. Ho Is secretary of tho Now York Merchants' association, and thnt association Is Interested In legis lation nt Washington as weir as at Albany. At Washington Just now they are pressing for nn uptown Now York postofllco, for PICTURESQUE NORTHWESTERN NEI1RA SKA-BAD LANDS WEST OF Mil. AND MnS. GEORGE W. MNINGER AN tho deopenlng of Buttermilk chnnnol, and aro also opposing thoso features of tho ship subsidy bill that permit forolgn built ships to partlclpato In tho benefits of tho pro posod subsidy. A number of former members of congress romaln horo when thoy rctlro to prlvato llfo looking after certain Interests. Former Representative Ellas Brookshlro of Indiana Is advocating a bill favored by tho United Statos Economic Postage association. What this association desires 1b congressional sanction for n system of return postal cards and return envelopes which It has de signed, by which persons using them need only pay for tho postago for tho cards and envelopes actually roturned. Former Representative Timothy J. Campbell of New York, who Is always look ing out for his friends, Is vory much in terested In having tho wages of postofllco clorks and letter carriers readjusted. . . . lillKHlg IlllO tl RCCClVer Dr. Cyrus Edson of Now York has made a study of tho danger of Infection from the uso of tho telephone, and It Is comforting to know that ho docs not agrco with tho alarmists, who seo In every telephono a mcnuco to public health. In Dr. Edson's opinion tho telephono may bo used In per feet safety, provided two slmplo rules bo Invariably followed. Theso rules aro: Tho keeping of mouthpleco and receiver In a Btato of absoluto cleanliness and tho keeping of tho mouth several Inches from .1 1 111 ........ i, ... 1110 iruusiniuer wnuo using wo teijpnono. If thoso rules aro rigidly followed tho scientist sees In tho uso of tho telephono no moro danger than mny accrue from swing ing signs. In a recent article published In tho Amer ican Telephono Journal Dr. Edson main taliiH theso views, and further adds corn- D GRANDDAUGHTER, MARION HALLER, fort to thoao who walk dally In tho fear of bacteria by giving tho assuranco thnt: "Not overy ono who Is actually Inocu lated with tho germs of a dlseaso develops that disease. There Is probably not a day In tho llfo of any Individual of tho human raco who lives In a city that ho docs not rccclvo Into his system tho germs of some Infectious disease. If wo caught disease overy tlmo wo wcro exposed to It tho human raco would bo very quickly de stroyed. Tho great majority of us are for tho most time Immune against all Infec tious diseases." Dr. Edson goes on to assure us that many telephono transmitters havo from tlmo to tlmo been examined by vigorous up holders of tho germ theories. In theso transmitters baleful germs of various kinds havo been discovered. Dr. Edson does not, however, bid us. despair because of this. He declares boldly that tho more presenco tho totnl number of foreigners who arrived of bacteria collected In any lodging placo during tho Inst ten years constitutes nbout proves nothing. Wo are assured that not one-third of tho 13,000,000 Increase In popu icsa than twenty varieties of bacteria havo latlon shown by tho census of 1900. In been found assembled under tho ilnirornnlln creasing restrictions and a decreaso in vlr- 0f n man whoso hands have Just undergone what seemed a most satisfactory cleaning. Ho Insists that bacteria exist everywhere, but ndds that wo need only concern our- selves with tho bacteria of disease. "I bellove," ho says, "that If 1,000 public telephono transmitters and receivers wero oxnmlned onlv ono or two wmilii nrnimh'v bo found to be Infected with dlseaso germs. This la a slight danger, which cannot al- ways bo avoided. A percentngo of tho human raco must sicken and die because ... ' wo find It convenient to llvo In cities. Thfs railroad, tho electric light, tho stenmshln and tho gas wo burn all claim a number ot victims yearly, and In this way man pays for anything that Is of great public good, not only with his money, but with his life." Tho cleanliness of tho telephone Is, there fere, its best safeguard. It is of Impor- ADEL.IA, SIOUX COUNTY. OF OMAHA VISITING THE PYRAMIDS. tanco to note thnt Dr. Edson lnsioU unit "no nmount of disinfection will take tin plnco of cleanliness." "In conclusion," saya tho scientist, "I would stato that If the telephono trans mitter nnd receiver aro used properly nnd tho samo rules of cleanliness applied to them as to other articles of use by a cleanly person, no danger whatever need be apprehended from them." All of which wU glvo great comfort to tho timid person who has been mado to see through tho oyes of tho alarmist a bogle, rather than a useful and harmless friend In tho telephone. Our New Population Immigration Into tho United States was larger last year than at any time slnco 1890, says tho Now York Commercial, nnd Bm area Jo not scom to havo discouraged lno '"iiux or nomeseoKers irom corona, an(1' wnat 18 more, they are now of a moro deslrablo character on tho average than tnnso wuo ca,no to tllls country during tho Great rush between 1881 and 1884. Austria-Hungary, Italy and Russia fur- nlsbed In about equnl numbors three-fifths ot 1110 600,000 foreigners added to the ponu- ,atln of tho United States lost year. Great Britain furnished 60,000, Ireland still cpn- trlbutlng a largo majority of theso. But a i. , ... low scattering citizens ot our now posses- Blns transferred their residence to tho UnItcl Stntca, thus sustaining what has becomo an nxlom In emigration sclenpe, 1,1111 peopio soiuoni icavo a warmer ror a colder county even where overy facility Is afforded for tho chnnge. it la evident from tho nationality of the pooplo now coming to the United States that comparatively fow of them, with tho oxceptlon of tho Russians, are competent to enter at onco Into tho agricultural life of tho west. They havo been encouragqd to cmlgrnto by tho demand for manufactur ing labor In tho United States, and it Is from this source thnt American Industrial contors have drawn tholr mill hnnds for plnnts of Increasing slzo, also much of their recent gain In population. Tho case with which the present largo Immigration Ib nbsorbed Is ono of tho best Indications possible that tho United States will not for a long tlmo reach that point where crowded conditions awako anxiety. In tho cnrller days of tho migration from Europo to America tho omlgrants left their homes to seek forms In a country whero thoy could bo hod for tho asking. A great army was conntantly on tho move. Min nesota, tho Dakotas and other states In that section wero soon filled up with fnrm Ing pooplo ot nil nationalities. Tho llf was not strenuous In tho sense of subdulns forces other than cold, heat and wind. It was lnrgoly a question of endurance Tho states where Indians had to bo fought, real wilderness explored and adventures pf heroic kind undertaken were settled as r. rulo by natlvo-born Amorlcans, who sought novolty and wero possessed of great adaptability to strange environment. Tho Immigration of today comes to cIllo'J ready for It, to agricultural communities short of men to till flolds already plowed and fenced. Tho Europeans now added dolly to tho population of tho United States benr the samo relation to industrial America as does a batch of recruits to a well-organized army.