Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-03-08
PROMISES AND PORK.

Pork" the current Issue OF Coller
Quotes tho plank of the last demo
cratic platform touching on "republl'
can extravaganza" and then points out
Some of the extravagant items carried
in the public buildings bill passed by
congress ut its recent session. Collier s
quotes Congressman Fitzgerald OF
BROOKLYN, the chairman of the appro-
priations committee, and one OF the
democratic leaders, as critiois1ng the
sham economists who have been talk
inx economy and advocating public
building bills which fasten obligations
on the treasury" Mr.. Fitzgerald
pointed out that there were $50 differ
emit projects for ~ many different
districts. This meant that 2S9 mem
beers had pooled their interests, giving
enough votes to pass the bill. He
called attention to the following items
in the bills
In the brief time available I have
noted some of the items in this bill to
which / wish to call the attention OF
the house. One for the erection Of a
building at Jasper, Ala, with a popula-
ton of $500 people. to cost 100000.
At Arkadalphia, Ark, q population or
2745, the appropriation is to be So5,-
900. At Jellico, Tenn, the building is
to cost 100000. The postofi1ce receipts
at Jellico last year were $8,424.49.
A $4,000 building to do a~gross
business of $s,424.49. r.
At Maryville, Tenn, with popula-
ton of 1881, the limit of cost is $780,
900. The postoffice receipts last year
were $S,1s3.5o.
At Buffalo, Wyo., town of 1858 peo-
PIE, the limit Of cost is $62,5O0.
For q postofflce at Willow, Cal, with
a population OF, i, 100 the limit of cost
is 5000 for the building. At Glen
wood Springs, Colo, 1000 population,
there Is to be appropriated 100000
for building. ,r... =.
Bellefourche, g. D., a town Of 1900
population, the cost ia $4,000.
For a postomoe at Norton. Va, with
a population of 1900, $4,000. At
Burlington, Wis, with population of
$500. $4,000.
Congressman Fitzgerald concluded
with this warning:
desire to say to this side of the
house that you are placing burdens
upon the treasury for Ave or six years
beyond the present time which will
plague you In the future. These items
cannot be defended. This side of the
house will have to meet the record.
and the charges that will be made at
ter this bill passes.
Golfers is not inclined to place all
the blame on the congressman, but
holds the people back at home to be
equally subject to criticism. A letter
from Congressman Whitacre, q new
It, IN -
who were clamoring for a public build
ing in small town in his district Ia
cited as an illustration. Mr.. Whit
acre had made . campaign issue Of the
fact that his predecessor had secured
out rof the federal treasury some
100000 for public buildings. He con.
Guided his letter with these words:
You ask me to Join this raid on the
treasury and to prove to you and your
republican associates that was liar,
a hypocrite, and demagogue when
charged Mr.. Kennedy with extrava-
gance. You profess to be business
men. Not one of you would do in
your business what you demand that
do for the public business.
1.-THE halls of congress are filled with
demagogues and hypocrites (if there
are such), it is only because the woods
back home are full of demagogues and
hypocrites. This is plain talk, but II
is the truth and you can make the
most of 1t.
Advocates Of economy in congress
denounce as indefensible the present
method OF passing public building
bills in bulk with an assured affirma.
tive vote from every member provided
for In the bill with an appropriation
for q new building In his district.