The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-05-02

things without which the country can
not get along.
Always Want the "Pork Barrel"
The army must be supported, and
then there is the Panama canal, to say
nothing OF expenditures for mainte-
nance of governmental institutions,
which are with us year In and year
out and cannot be classed as extraor-
binary. There is no reason to doubt
that because OF the probable absence
Of a public buildings bill this year the
pressure for one next year will be
strong. The representatives always
are urgent for an appropriation for
public buildings, voted in the form OF
bill which to the reverent and IT.
reverent alike is known as the pork
BARREL" The ordinary public build
ings bill carries about $3O,OOO,OOO.
Every new member who comes to
Washington in March is determined
to vote against extravaganza. His con-
st1tuents have drilled into him the
necessity of stopping some of the Jaw
full waste that goes on yearly in Wash
tngton," but he soon learns that the
legitimate expenses of government
are heavy and that what the constit-
uents considered extravaganza was
merely money put into big ships, high
er pay for officers and men OF the
army and navy, the canal and other
things without which the government
could not progress. When the mem
bers become accustomed to dealing
with huge figures it is not so hard to
get their minds fixed on the little ad-
ditional" it will require to erect struc-
lures in various parts of the Union.
Henry's Publicity Bill.
There has been campaign publicity
bill already passed by congress. 1t
provides that candidates for federal
office shall make known their expendi-
lures and the sources of their contri-
buttons during campaigns for the elec-
ton.
Now Representative Henry of Tex
as wants to go further and has intro
duced bill providing for the pub
ltcity of contributions and expendi-
lures incident to the nomination OF
candidates for president and vice.
president. This bill, even If 1t passes,
will not have any effect on the present
but with seven or eight can
didates in the field, each of them con-
Quoting lively literary campaign, to
say nothing of verbal utterances. q
good deal of money is being spent,
and while there has been no intima-
ton that any of it has come from
sources that ought not to contribute,
there Is still lively curiosity in Wash
1ngton to know where the coin comes
from. If the Henry bill becomes a
law, 1t Is probable that four years
from now the curiosity of the public
Will be satisfied, although doubtless 1t
Will be with reference to pecuniary
assistance given to candidates other
than those now In the field.
A bill has been introduced into con-
gress for the erection in Washington
Of a monument to Gen. George Cor
don Meade, who commanded the
Union army at Gettysburg. The move
ment for a monument to Meade was
started by the Pennsylvania Historical
society some time ago. It does not
Seem to be so much a question in
now as to whether or not
Meade ought to be given place for
. statue in the national capital, as
or not there is proper place
to put the statue. Washington Is full
Of memorials OF men who made their
mark either in civil life or the mill
tary or naval professions, but the ten
dency is to cut down the number OF
statues for the fine arts commission
thinks that statues are not so mach
to be preferred as trees, shrubbery,
fountains and other things which M
ture can claim as its own.