The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-24
PORK BARREL BILL
HANGS IN BALANCE
Fate of Measure Will Be Decided
at Democratic Caucus
Monday Night.
GREAT STRUGGLE IS ON
It Is Fight of Public Buildings
Against Construction OF
Battleslips.
GREAT STRUGGLE IS ON
Especial to The Times-Diepatch.,

lSpeClat 10 lEe llIileS-
Washington March 23.-when the
House Democrats meet in caucus
Monday night they will determine ono,
for all whether there snail be pork
barrel" public buildings bill at this
session Of Congress, and upon the de-
termination OF this question depends
also whether any fattleships are
authorized now. II is public buildings
against battleships, and the Battle Is
on.
The Senate is likewise having It's
trouble over this question. Before II
ts ended. the upper House of Con
sress may be forced to adopt some
hxed rule hereafter for It's guidance
In the House public building pro-
5ects are not considered unless the
town can show ut least 5000 inhabi-
tants, and does al annual postal bust
ness of at leaRt $4,000. While some
latitude Is allowed to varying cir
cumstances. yet the House sticks very
closely to this rule. Just the opposite
Is the case in the Senate. where no
rule at all prevails, and where 1t Is
a question of each Senator getting
practically everything he neks for.
This phase of the public building
question will 10 considered when the
Senate plunges into the debate over
she bills supplying magnificent build
inss for Sundance. Newcastle. and
Thernioplois, Wyoming. and ST. George,
Utah. all OF which combined have a
total population OF less than 10000
souls. In other words the four places
Just named are likely to form n pre-.
cedent for the future souanderins of
government money in order TO erect
Federal building on the site OF some
future town. Just now much money
has already been SO expended and
squeezed from the governments cash
boxes no one knows, but one thing is
certain, with Senator Lea, OF Ten
nessee: and Kenyon. of iowa. on guard
as watchdogs the man who gets away
with such badger games hereafter will
have to prove himself moro than ordi-
narily shrewd
1t Is recognized that the erection of
nice, new public building adds much
TO the beauty and general attarct've-
ness OF town, but the main question
hereafter will be whether they are
really needed. Throughout the coun-
Try many such have been authorized
and built where there was no earthly
use for them except to add few polit-
zeal feathers IN the caps of the Sena-
tors and Representatives. who were
smart enough to get them.
If the Senate members who are prom
ltr
Of the peoples money will DO little
figuring they will doubtless ind that
in many small towns buildings could
he rented for post Office purposes for n
sum each year that would prove mere
hagatellA in comparison with amounts
paid out in construction and maintc-
nance OF buildings
But as to the House caucus. those
who are on the inside believe that the
light for buildings against battleshlps
Will prove a compromise ana that
when the caucus fight Is over tha re-
suit Will he that pork barrell" bill
VIII be authorized this year which Will
su7ply each member OF the House with
al least one new building 20 rhis dis
trict. II no wants it, and which will
permit OF at least ona hattlcsh1p being
authorized. Such a compromise would
bring satisfaction TO all parties con-
ccrned The battlesl.ip people would
We able to show that they had won a
least q partial fight and that half a
loaf Is better than 10 loaf at an While
the various congressman VIII be able
to go home and have one building TO
their credit. Tint would leave then,
IL! good shape with the people, ana nj
the next session OF Congress they
could again go in for still more appro-
pr!atons OF Atha same kind Ii may
be coun ted.upen that way out Of Inc
dilemma Will be found, and that In the
enc everybody viii be satisfied a com
promise IS the thing, and that IS the
way the situation looks now