The Washington times., 1905-02-24
At the Trough.

IN one chapter or his extremely
valuable study. The American Com
monwealth, James Bryce discusses
the tendency of the American Con-
gress to become a mere log-rolling
machine. Congressman will trade an.
preparations, he says, in substance,
for mutual advantage. Bills will be
framed with such trades as their con-
trolling principle. and passed. not
as broad measures for the country's
good, but as broad measures which
include items of personal good for
each member. And if the Executive
veto should impend. legislation agree
able to the President can easily be
found to trade for the necessary sig
nature.
Any American who inelines to dis
pute that appfaisenent need only
consult the Congressional Record for
Wednesday, February %. The river
House It is common knowledge that
this bill IS put together exactly as
Mr. Bryce has outlined. There may
be no specific agreement, but an
agreement is operative, just the same.
S IF the member OF the committee from
New York votes 10 improve some 1lar-
Dor on the California coast, why, nc
gentleman who happens to represent
that section of California on the com
mittee would fail TO reciproeate for
New York.
In this way, or in some other, Phila-
deIpIlia gets an allowance OF 81. .250. 900
for the improvement Of the Delaware
river This is one dollar out of every
twenty-five appropriated for the i'm
provement Of all the harbors in the
whole country.
Now. the whole country is inter
ested in the welfare of Philadelphia
interested in its commerce as well as
in its pitiable struggle TO make itself
decent. So the committee heard ar
guments from the Philadelphia dele
cation for still more money with re-
sDeetfuI attention, and finally agreed
TO add 100000 more TO the allow
anee, on the very reasonable eondi-
ton that Pennsylvania contribute a
like sum. They were t.piling more
and more on'-the words are those Of
the committee where there
has been more appropriated already
than for any other place .
How did Philadelphia take this
Did its Representatives in the House
thank the committee and accept the
duty Of urging the State Legislature
to appropriate a ike sum2 Not on
your life. They protested with all
their might and main against having
the State pay red cent. They said
the State had already spent 81 600 ,00G
on the harbor: but when the chair
man asked for an itemized statement
OF the $4,000, 900 no one promised te
produce it. And eventually they
backed down for fear of losing the
s40G. 900.
So, as far as this bill is concerned, no
only was the Hen. James Bryce, II
p, amply justified n his fears. buf
more than justified. The bill has be
come not alone a log-ro1Iing measurs
but a trough, and the community
which gets most to eat is the mos
gluttonous in its demands.
Perhaps this experience viii opel
the way for better legislation Of thi
class. It would be fine step forwars
If Congress were to improve the har
bors Of Pennsylvania and all the othe
States which have harbors, as it i'm
proves the District Of Colunabia-it
own home. II any harbor is wortl
improving those who profit by tn
improvement ought to be willing t
pay half the cost. The adoption o
that principle would put an altogethe
different aspect on our river an
harbor legislation.