Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-07-26
DIVISION OF THE PORK
How the Republican Managers
Carved the Meat.
PUNISHED THE INDEPENDENTS

Only Txventy-three Members stood
Out Against the House Machine.
They Got What Was Coming to
Them-The Plan Exhibits the CO.
hesive Power of Plumber.
The objection to the pork bill" is
not against the appropriation of money
to build pOstoffices and other public
buildings, but the manner in which the
distribution of the amount for con
gressional districts is used to coerce
congressman on other legislation.
There are 3SG members of the house,
and if the appropriations made for
large cities are considered as benef-
cial to all its members no less than 263
OF them are cared for in this bill. ~
we should credit all of Chicigo's ten
representatives With the $25,GOO for a
South Chicago postofice," says the
New York Post, 'there would be left
only 113 Of the unrewarded bad boys
We are taking no account in this anal.
ySis of the changes in the bill made by
the senate.
During the session just closed
there were two conspicuous opportuni
ties for misconduct on the part Of Re.
publican members. Those were the
votes on the Philippine tariff and the
statehood bill. Let us see how re.
wards and punishments have been
meted out to the insurgents on thos,
famous measures. For this purpose
we may divide the members into three
classes. The first, including thirty Re
publicans and thirteen Democrats, is
made up of those in whose districts
appropriations Of 100000 or more
have been made by the house; the sec
ond, those who got less than 100000
or merely shared in appropriations
with their colleagues, and the third
those who got nothing at all, individu
ally or with colleagues, for a city OF
state at large
There were only twenty consistent
leaders on both the contested measures
Five of them got into the 100000 elias:
-Messrs. Gillett Of California. Frencl
of Idaho, Minor of Wisconsin, Mondel
Of Wyoming and Smith Of California
Five got nothing at all, two shared ap
received amounts averaging $4,000
the average for all members included
at all being more than $4,000. At thu
same time it is interesting to see how
saving grace was extended to those
who had once erred, but professed re
pentance. Thus in the 100000 elias.
are seven who voted against their par
ty Oh the Philippine bill, but came int
line the next week for the statehood
bill. Two who were regular on til,
first, but not on the second. also appea,
in the privileged class.
But these last, who voted straigh
the first time and ~perversely straye(
v to the Democrats on the statehood
bill when every vote was so sorel,
needed, generally got what was com
Ing to them There were twenty-five,
such misguided men. Only two. il
spite of their support for the Philippin
tariff, have their names among til,
good boys. Five share appropriation
with fellow congressman. Seven &c
an average Of $40, 600 apiece. rangin;
from $4,000 to $4,000, while eight ar
righteously sent home without a penny
It is indeed a serious matter to stant
against the house machine"
You a tell how subservient you
member of congress was to the ma
chine by the amount appropriated TO
the district.
The appropriation of the public mon
ey should be made on a business basis
according to the necessities of each 10
cality, and instead of building enor
nous buildings in the large cities tina
are imposing, but often quite unadapt
ed for official business. the smalle
towns should be supplied with the nee
essary p%ostofhce buildings.