New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-02
PORK BARREL MEASURES
STRANCLED IN CONGRESS
MisdireCted Economy Strategy
Upsets the Plans of the
House COnferreeS.
THEIR ULTIMATUM REACTS
Move Aimed to Save the Pork
Dooms the Public Buildings
Bill-Rivers and Harbors
Filibuster oy Newlands.
From Tho Tribune Bureau.


Washington, March 1.-The two pork
barrel measures, the public buildings
bill and the rivers and harbors bill
were strangled. apparently beyond hope
Of resuscitation. in the end-of theses
sion rush in Congress to-day At the
close of a tumultuous day there was
still a flicker of life in the rivers and
harbors bill. but the public bull iings
bill was pronounced dead by the con-
ferrees Of the two houses.
The killing Of the public buildings
bill was due to a final spasm OF mis-
directed economy on the part Of the
House conferrees, who were determined
TO save the pork and reject the only
meritorious features of the bill At the
very outset, they delivered the ulti-
nahum TO the Senate Representatives
that it would be useless 10 attempt t.
reach an agreement until four of the
important Senate amendments had
been sacrificed These were the appro-
priation of 10000 for an armory in
the District OF Columbia. 81 10000
for a memorial bridge across the Po-
tomac to Arlington. s.. 100000 for OK
tending Rock Greek Park. S30O0OO0
for the purchase of a courthouse site
in New York City and 100000 for the
erection of a Red Cross building in
Washington, toward which the New
York State Commandery of the Loyal
Legion was TO contribute 100000.
The rivers and harbors bill was singled
out as the target for d flibuster by
Senator Newlands, whose plan for the
appointment of federal commission
TO cooperate with the states in The
improvement Of waterways was reject
ed by the House cOnferrees.
When Senator Sutherland reported to
the Senate the attitude Of the House
conferrees toward the public buildings
bill it was apparent that there would
be no compromise. Senator O'Gorman
promptly protested against the sacri-
flee of the Senate amendments, saying
that the important items had been
stricken from the bill, while the Objec-
tionable ones. making provision in
small towns, were to remain. Senator
Root also called attention 10 the fact
that the House conferrees. in their pas
sion for economy, had insisted upon
the elimination of the only features for
which the bilf could be commended
appropriations for projects in which
the people Of the whole country were
Interested Despite the ultimatum OF
the House the bill was promptly sent
back 10 conference.
by a vote of 81 10 20 the Senate AT
1880 o'clock tonight refused 90 re-
enter upon the consideration of the
conference report OH the rivers and
harbors bill.
With adjournment only about sixty
hours away. Congress tonight bad
thirteen of its fifteen bic supply bills
unfinished and the proceedings IN the
Senate were such as 10 indicate that
several of the measures might fail Of
passage before March !.
The only measures that reached the
President to-day were the fortiEcatlonS
appropriations bill. involving about
$4,000 000. and the diplomatic and con
sular bill. carrying something over go
100000. The measures resting IN pre-
cariOus condition tonight involved APP
propriations of more than 81 ,0OOWO-