The Washington times., 1913-02-18
PORK BARREL BILL
PASSED TO. SENATE
House Approves Measure in
Spite of FitzgeraId's Protest
of Its Extravaganza.

The pork barrel" a juicy affair
authorizing more than s25. .00c.o 900 for pub
lie buildings throughout the country.
went over to the Senate from the House
today. The bill was passed late Jes-
terday in the lower body. Congress-
man Burnett, in charge of the measure,
moved to suspend the rules and pass
the bill. a proposition which carried
with 1t only forty minutes of debate
and the necessity for two-thirds ma
Iority
The two-thirds' majority naterialized.
and the pork barrel passed with n
whoop, 1S4 to 10, after the friends OF
that measure had voted against a roll
call and a record vote.
Congressman Hardwick Of Georgia.
asserted:
In the palmiest days of the so-cailed
Cannonism, no bill so rotten has beea
brought into this House. submit
members know this bill is not in the
interest of the public, but in the inter-
est OF the political fortunes OF men on
both sides Of the chamber"
Carries No Actual Money.
Congressman burnett, who used eight
minutes to explain the bill. said that 1t
had been two years since a public
buildings bill had passed and that the
pending measure carried merely
authorizations and not actual money.
Chairman Fitzgerald. of the Appro-
priations Committee, said the bill pro-
vided obligations, however. which the
Treasury would eventually carry out
and that many buildings previousy
authorized were still unconstructed
and could not be built for three years.
When Congressman Fitzgerald asked
nine ,members-an insufficient number
arose in favor Of the roll call Con-
gressman Ollie James shouted "every-
body up when the noes" or the
other side was called for.
Mr.. Fitzgerald told HIS hard-headed
colleagues who had lined up for the
pork barrel that 1t would require
three years to complete public buildings
already authorized, and the present
measure was unnecessary and extrava-
CANT.
The sham economists VINO have been
talking economy and at the same time
advocating propositions which -fasten
obligations upon the Treasury should
either stop talking or attempt to stop
such authorizations" he. said "A bill
House under suspension Of the rules
and a consequent debate OF only forty
minutes"
/ Mr.. Fitzgerald said he understood the
bill was so scientifically drawn" that
est reform the Democratic House can IN
stitute," he added, next to the defeat
Of such legislation is to prohibit recog-
milton Of any member to move to sus-
pend the rules and pass q bill OF this
importance"
Picks Flaws In Bill.
With only ten minutes at his disposal,
Mr.. Fitzgerald proceeded to pick a few
of the flaws which he said he had dis
covered in the pork barrel" He point
ed out that Jasper, Ala, with a popula-
ton Of $500. had been given a 100000
building, while Arkadelphia, Ark. with
2,745 population. was allowed $4,000.
why this diherence?" he asked.
Selecting at random other small towns
which had been literally provided for in.
the pork barrel, the New York Demo-,
crat said:
Rockville. Conn. with a population
Of 800; gets a $500 public building;
$500. receives a $4,000 building; Orlan-
do, Fla, with its $500 population, is al
lowed $50, 900. and Jellico. Tenn, with
postofice receipts of only s., 44 is sched
uIed for a $4,000 building. / learn that
the rent Of quarters at -Jellico cost the
Government only 800 per year and 8
per cent interest on $4,000 amounts to
g. 100-which shows the loss from this
proposition.
"Extravagant Provisions"
THE town of Willows, CAL. is allotted
5000 In this bill. 1t has a population
Of only 1,1oo. Glenwood Springs, Colo.
with 1000 people is to get 100000 The
town of Norton. Va. with its 1.sOO popu-
lation draws a $4,000 building, and Bur-
lington. Wis. with 800 people. will
receive $4,000" -.
Mr.. Fitzgerald scored the public build
ings committee for it's course regarding
the public building at Yonkers. n. Y.
The original authorization, he said, had
been $170, 600 for site and building. The
bill passed today, authorized a s25O. 900
appropriation for a site a. Yonkers and
$3.50 600 additional for a building.
This is just sample of the extra
VACANT provisions Of this BILL" he said.