Page "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" Paragraph 5

To keep Smith busy, Paine suggests he propose a bill.

With the help of his secretary, Clarissa Saunders ( Jean Arthur ), Smith comes up with a bill to authorize a federal government loan to buy some land in his home state for a national boys ' camp, to be paid back by youngsters across America.

Donations pour in immediately.

However, the proposed campsite is already part of a dam-building graft scheme included in an appropriations bill framed by the Taylor " political machine " and supported by Senator Paine.