The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-03-29

Adaing Amendments - Legitimate
Bills the FavOrite Method Of
Lawmakers Of securing
sPie" for Personal Use.
ESPECIAL Washington Ietter.I

THE passion for pelf ana the
power of public plumber were
never SO well illus trated in the
history of our republic as during the
closing days OF the recent short SEES
sion of the congress. The individ-
uals comprising the senate and house
Of representatives were exceedingly
nonpartisan in their efforts to get
their hands into the treasury away
up above the elbows. Statesmen q
both political parties were equally
culpable
There is nothing in the constitu-
ton. nothing in statutory or common
law, to authorize the expenditure OF
the public moneys for expositions, for
river and harbor steals. for fraud
ulent claims, nor for any one OF the
many things which were put to the
fore by the politicians in the national
congress, at the instigation of their
constituencies and commonwealths.
The people should know the truth
and deal with their servants accord
ing to their merits or dement's. Dem
ocr~ss and republicans alike have
sinned. and the truth may be told
without partisan feeling or partisan
statement.
There were senators and represent
atives who desired an extra session
Of the congress in order that consid-
Grafton might be given to Chinese,
Philippine and Cuban affairs. Some
of them were SO much in earnest that
they declared that all Legislation
should I've blocked in order that an
extra session might be compelled.
The reason why they all fell down
and Frustrated their sincere opin-
ions was given by Congressman Hep
burn, of Iowa. the acknowledged lead
ing debater of the house of repre-
sentatives. when he said to the
writer: ut was the greed of public
money. The legislation which would
prevent an extra session was placed
upon the army appropriation bill. IN
the form of amendments. Then the
army appropriation bill was placed
on the calendar. in advance of the
sundry civil and the river and harbor
appropriation bills. Those bills con-
tanned the pie or pork for which
many were contending.
.Those bills could not be taken up
and considered until the army appro-
priation bill was disposed of. Conse
ouently. in order to get at the "pie'
bills. statesmen who mad sworn tha'
they would ne'er consent consented
and voted for the bill which they hat
sworn TO Kill.
.The sundry civil appropriation bill
contained the provision of 100000
for the st. Louis exposition; and al
OF the supporters of that appropria
ton were obliged TO vote for the arm.
appropriation bill in order TO get a
the sundry civil pie That measur
also contained the appropriation o
$3.50 900 for the Charleston exposition
and they also were obliged 10 vot
for the army appropriation bill. III
river and harbor appropriation bi
contained aggregate sums amountin
to $4,000 600 In that bill almost ever
member Of the senate and house @
representatives had an interest. The
were obliged TO vote for the army al
preparation bill in order TO get thei
pie in that bill. Consequently the
, all fell down and surrendered.
"The army appropriation bill wa
, one of the best measures of the kin
that has ever passed the house of rel
resentatives. 1t was the senat
amendments on foreign affairs whic
, caused the hot opposition TO il; bt
the senate amendments were all swa
lowed by the opponents Of thos