Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-09-09
Congressman Making Prepare
tons to Spend Public Funds
With Liberality
ALL PARTIES GET HAND
Special Efforts Being Made to Please
Con. tituents as Election Draws
Nea,-some Of the Probable Expend-
lures to Be ordered-PubIio Build
inss Costly.
Special to Times Republican.


the pork barrel next session of con-
gress. The polk bar'l," the southern
members call 1t, q fact, however
which does not prevent their dipping
as deeply into it's resources as do the
members from the north. The stress
for juicy slices of the contents of the
federal treasury will be great, and
with presidential election coming on
and the feeling rife in the house that
it is necessary to keep everyone In as
good h amor as possible, it will be diff
ficult Tor the new self constituted
watchdogs of the country's cash box
to prevent it from being badly de-
pleted before adjournment comes.
Their, will be public buildings bill.
This Isl always essential II the pork
barrel IS to be genuinely attacked and
a general distribution made OF the
meat thereof. The indications are
that this bill will carry liberal sum
and will provide for new buildings
and additions in large number OF
congress sional districts. Representa-
tive Bartholdt, of st. Louis, chairman
of the aouse public buildings commit
tee, said lately that he intended to do
all possible to get e. public buildings
measure thru. The treasury is in
good condition" said Mr. Bartholdt,
"and the need for public buildings the
country over is great. There Is no
reason why liberal provision for pub
lie buildings should not be made this
session. / do not know what the at
titude Of Speaker Cannon will be, but
for myself I intend to do whatever I
can to get bill passed. have no
idea yet what such bill Is likely to
carry"
Following the usual course Of things
whenever there is any probability OF
public building legislation, there will
be Widespread demand for public
building authorizations and appropri-
ations. The member of the house
whose district is not insisting on one
or more new public buildings will be
fortunate, but lonesome. The last
general public buildings measure was
passed by the first session of the Fiji
ty-ninth congress 1t carried author
izations of over $27,500,000. The bills
introduced, however, contained pro-
visions Tor several times that amount.
1t took {. lot of pairing and pruning, In
ducing 10 little hard feeling, to get the
bill cut down to something like rea-
sonable limits. This winter the pres
sure will probably be still greater.
Congress has settled down definite
ly. to the policy of having separate
postoffice and federal buildings in the
larger cities. This policy will be ad-
,hered t., in any appropriations or au-
thorizat5ons that may be made the
coming session. 1t tends to increase
the nun Der of public buildings neces-
sary, but it's supporters deem the IN
creased convenience warrants the adj
ditional expense.
When congress meets it will be con-
fronted with the fact that the office
of the supervising architect has been
embarra ssed by getting bids for public
buildings, this year in many cases by
the appropriation being lower than the
lowest proposals. 1t is charged this IS
due to Increased cost Of materials, Ia
Dor troubles, the extensive building OPP
erations in the country generally and
various other causes Congress will be
forced to make additional public build
ing appropriations to meet such emer-
gencies.
In connection with public building
matters, there will be strong demand
on congress for appropriations for new
government buildings in the city of
Washington. The expansion of the
governm snt's activities is so rapid that
the office room needed is far in excess
Of that in the government buildings
proper, that is, the buildings the gov
eminent has erected. The expenditure
of the government for rental of build
ings in the District Of Columbia Is get
ting larger and larger each year. 1t
is needless to say this is encouraged
by landlords Of Washington who find
Uncle Sam most desirable tenant,
who pays; his bills promptly and keeps
his rented quarters in good condition.
In the last year the government de-
partments in Washington have occu-
pied no less than 1874 private struct-
ures, at u total annual rental of 1885,
3S2.76, representing if capitalized at s
per cent, a sum Of $6,439,712. There is
not much doubt it would be economy
if the government erected its own
buildings entirely. 1t is certain it
would be great convenience, since it
often hao opens that the bureaus of
single department are so scattered
about that it takes the better part of
day to walk about to all of them.
The department of commerce and
labor needs a new building and there
has long been urged a project to build
a new structure for the departments
Of state, justice and commerce and
labor The interstate commerce COM
mission IS badly hampered for room
and is in a building now that is motor
ious for having the slowest elevators in
Washington. 1t is a standing joke
that the commission cannot regulate its
own car problem, to say nothing Of the
The completion of the magnificent
new union station in Washington VIII
probably result in a new postoffice
building for the city of Washington
being ere cted near it.
When 1t comes to pork barrel mat
ters, the rivers and harbors bill must
not be overlooked. 1t is likely there
will be a strong demand for such a bill
this winter, but as one was passed last
winter. the speaker will probably in
sist that nothing be done except TO APP
for continuation of work on
projects already authorized. With no.