Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1914-12-09
PUBLIC BUILDING
BILL PERPLEX|NG
ARTYCH|EFTA|NS
Democrats Wondering If They
Dare Spring Post Office
Measure When Econ
omy is Needed.
ISSUE TO BE HARD FOUGHT
Pork Barrel Contingent Anx-
ious to Raid Treasury But
Wiser Heads May Head
Them Off.
ISSUE TO BE HARD FOUGHT

Wa~SN1nStrfl. ~. g.. Dec. a.-c1C OF
the appropriation problems which is
looming mp Tor the consideration of the
democratic leaders in the House and
Senate is whether to pass a public
buildings bill. The solution Of this
problem will cause not Il little trouble
and embarrassment.
Tho House public buildings commit
tee. of which Congressman Clark, of
FloIida, is chairman, has not decided
whether to present II bill this session.
The committee will meet soon after
the session opens to decide what to do.
The question will he threshcd over in
an informal way among the House
leaders and may be submitted to eau
Gus.
Whether a bill is put through will
depend on the decision of the House
democrats. Ii they should determine
to pass a public buildings measure. the
Senat would acquiesce. The sentiment
among tine House democrats as to the
wisdom of trying to pass Il bill this
session is divided. 1t is generally felt
that a bill should he passed. but that
it may be politically inexpedient to do
so because of the war tax and the high
appropriations in other directions than
for public buildings.
Rival Interests.
The members who are most anxious
for a liberal river and harbor bill at
the winter session, are AS q rule not
well disposed to Il public buildings bill.
and, on the other hand. the members
who have no big rivers and harbors in
their districts. are against river and
harbor Legislation on a great scale and
are strong for public buildings.
Already there are signs of sharp fac
tionalism as between the advocates of
river and harbor legislation and the
advocates OF public buildings legisla-
ton. This may develop into a first
class fight soon after the session opens.
The present congress has not passed
Il public buildings bill. Under the or
binary practice. such a measure would
be enacted mt the short session. One
of the obstacles in the way is the al
tax. This legislation is not popular
and democratic leaders in view of this
will urge that appropriations be held
down. But the average member of the
House finds thai the demands from
home Tor Il public building bill are get
ting stronger and stronger and that il
Is becoming more ard more difficult to
resist them.
A potent reason why congress is not
likely To he as rampant for a public
building bill as it would be otherwise
bill is passed the buildings will not be
erected for years to come. 1t is Il
strange fact that the treasury depart
ment in effect Systematically overrides
the will of con greSS as to public build
:ngs.. The office of the supervising
architect is so far behind that
il would take it about our years to
catch up with the public building legis-
lation already enacted. Sites APP
propliated for by the Sixty-second
congress in many cases are not yet
purchased. Therefore. if congress pass
es a bill. it will be a long time before
the buildings authorized under it win
be contracted. On the other hand, IL
nember of who gets a project
through congress can lay claim to the
credit for the authorization whether
the building is put up or not.
If n public building bill is reported
out of the House committee it will
carry at least $25,O OO. 900. The adj
vocates of economy would object
strenously to this. If the bill passed
the House and went to the Senate. it
would be materially increased. That
is the usual history of public build
ings measures.
Senator Burton, of Ohio. returned to
Washington today and has begun
preparations for a fight OIL all pork
barrel" features in the river and har-
Dor bill. Senator Burton is awaiting
the report from the rivers and harbors
committee before announcing what
features he will attack. The war on
the bill, which will carry about $4O,-
100000, he promises to be as bitter
this session as last. Senator Kenyon,
who will arrive Sunday, has been
gathering i lot Of material to be used
against the river and harbor bill.