Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-10-03
EDITOR
ECONOMY AND THE PoRK,BARREL

The national Democratic party Is having
some trouble in the campaign this fall explain
ing why it has not accomplished anything par
ticular in the way of economy as compared to
the record of the Republicans when they con
trolled Congress.
While the rivers and harbors bill was before
Congress- Republican speakers let no oppor
tunity slip to "shOw up" the majority. And
President Wilson did not make the cause OF
the majority any too good when he advised the
Democrats to compromise, after Senators Bur
ton and Kenyon had begun their successful
filibuster. AS result the historic "pork-bar-
REL, was rolled off into a corner, unopened
Congress appropriated lump sum considera
bly, less than first proposed for rivers and har-
bors, and-alas for political projects--passed d
bill allowing the lump sum to be spent at the
discretion of the army engineers.
While Senator Kenyon was conducting his
part of the fight against the original BILL he
sent the following hurting at the Democratic
side: "..H
''Mr. President, whether or not we are JUST
fed in fighting this measure in the view of the
senate am willing to take my chancs as to the
verdict of justification upon the men who are
fighting this bill before the people of the coun-
try when they understand how their money is
being spent by the American Congress.
"These seats may be vacant to large extent,
and it may be all waste of time, and it may be
all farce to call attention to such items as
that for the Crystal River and the one for the
Sabine river, but at some time the people OF
this country are going to demand of their pub
lie servants that they do not spend their time
on great matters entirely, but that they give
some attention to details and some attention to
holding down the expenses of the government
have taken these two Illustrations to lead up
to the question Of economy, which | desire to
discuss. s.<s.se@E Il. m. -. .
"The responsibility for this bill ought not to
be placed entirely upon the Democratic party.
Perhaps they are glad to accept that RESPONSE
bility. 1t has been stated on the floor that this
bill is on the Democratic program. / do not
believe It. One Democrat at least has stood
upon the floor and said that the Democrats are
not all in favor of this bin. / refer to the dis
tinguished senator from Colorado Mr..
Thomas), who has tried in every way in this
body to bring about little economy in public
expenditures He must be discouraged about
it. as every other man who has made such an
effort must also be discouraged. only want to
put up to you good Democrats now-and do
it in spirit of affection; should like to help
save you, if it is possible to do SO, and some OF
the elections recently look as if it might be
possible; should like to help save You from
yourselves in these extravagances, because /
think have good deal more interest In the
public welfare than IN any party welfare.
q You are goig to spend, as I pointed out yes
terday, for the year ending June 30, 1915, $780,
100000 more than was spent by the last Repub-
lican Congress, which you condemned from one
end of the country to the other, and you had a
right to do so. The Republican party has not
been any saint in the matter of public expendi-,
lures donot claim any particular virtue about
it at all Imay be entirely wrong in my opinion
about il, but you have got to answer to the
country; and if you pass this river and harborl
bill, what are You going to say to the taxpayer
when you are making speeches in the campaign
about economy and he propounds the simple
little question to you, Have you not spent a
hundred million dollars more than the Repub
lican Congress which you have condemned Il
Britain has spent ninety millions in corner
ing the sugar market This news is Interesting