Lobbyist Admits to Bribing Lawmakers
A longtime lobbyist testifies that he received thousands of dollars from the Northern Pacific Railway to kill legislation in the Washington Territorial House.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Washington, Jan. 23.—John Harmon, a veteran lobbyist, testified this morning before the Bailey Investigating Committee that he received $5,000 from the Northern Pacific Company of Washington for work done by him in aiding to defeat legislation adverse to the company, between the years 1878 and 1879. He further testified the money was paid him in the room of Representatives by John Bailey, the person under investigation.
“He received $5,000 from the Northern Pacific Company of Washington for work done by him in aiding to defeat legislation adverse to the company.”
This is a quintessential example of Gilded Age corporate corruption, where industrial giants like the Northern Pacific held the Washington Territorial legislature in their pocket. Such scandals over 'legislative aid' remain a perennial subject of civic oversight.
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