Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-07-30
PORK BARREL CLAMOR
S7|RS UP MEMBERS
Lively Time Promised at DEM
0cratic Caucus Tomorrow
Over Appropriations.

Denying the right Of caucus to direct
the actions of the appropriations COM
mittee of the House of Representatives
to increase the expenditures of the gov
eminent Representative Fitzgerald of
New York, chairman or the committee,
donned his war paint and feathers today
and his attitude indicates that there Will
be lively time tomorrow afternoon
when the democratic caucus meets.
A call for this secret conclave of
House democrats has been sent around
to the majority members, the sole pur-
pose being to shove through 100000
worth Of public building projects for the
pork barrel"
The call for the caucus, signed by
Representative Palmer of Pennsylvania
as chairman, states that 1t will meet
"for the purpose of considering a reso-
luton directing the appropriations com
mittee of the House to include In the
deficiency appropriation bill an item
appropriating sufficient money to cover
the expenses Of selecting sites or other
deficiencies for public buildings pro,
yifed for in the omnibus building Dill
nassed at the last session of the Sixty
second Congress
Mr.. Fitzgerald Resents Action.
1t is understood that sixty-one mem
bers signed the petition for the caucus.
This is a most extraordinary occur
renee" said Mr.. Fitzgerald, land | do
not propose to be showed around the
House by any bunch of 'pork-barreP con-
pressmen. A caucus is called generally
to consider a party matter. and appro-
priations for public buildings are not a
party matter, but a committee matter.
| do not intend to sacrifice my rights as
committee chairman for any caucus.
All Of which indicates that Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald. backed by ms
democratic friends on his own com
mittee, which has the whip hand IN
matters of expenditure, will refuse 10
be bound by the caucus, and situation
of insurgency will result. =,
1t is said by the economy crowd
that to shove through this pork-barrel
appropriation at the extra session
would be in the nature of violation
Of the party's pledge to the country.
1t was understood that the only money
to be appropriated at this session
would be for the urgent deficiency
items.
Shaky Members Are Solicitous.
However, many representatives who
feel that their chances for returning 70
Congress are precarious. on account OF
local political reasons dealing with the
tariff, feel that they ought to have a
public building bill to show their con-
stituency that they have accomplished
something.
However, the onslaught of the public
hnilding advocates will be met by the
combined solid front of the economy
squad, led by Mr.. Fitzgerald. and the
situation will probably result IN as
bitter a fight as any of those which
occurred while the tariff bill was In
caucus
The appropriations committee h:1
been at work for several weeks prepar-
ing the deficiency appropriation plli
which will carry in the neighboPhood
of $4,000, 900 One of the items asked
for by the Treasury Department IS
$4,000 for extra employees for the
supervising architects office Repre-
sentative Fitzgerald said today that
the number of employees asked for in
this item amounts to rs per cent of the
entire force now at work there