Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-11-11
PROMISED ACHIEVEMENTS OF
DEMOCRATS IN WAY OF ECON
oMY THREATENED.
LEADERS CONFIRMING IN
HOPE Or EVOLVING FiAis
"Billion Dollar Congress. Now Out
grown and obsoIete-Eeonomy Talk
Comes to Nausht at End Of Each
Observation-Disclosures Has Several
Revenue Measures Under considsra.
tion-Merehant Marine Possible.
Especial Correspondence.1

Washington, Nov. 1l.-That foe Of
government economy. the pork barrel,
looms UP as large as ever TO threaten
! otninousiy all the talked-of achieve
ments of the democratic leaders in the
way of reduction of appropriations.
! House democratic leaders are con-
ferring this week over some budget
plan in the hope of holding down the
expenditures. But it is palpable that
they are engaged on a task which, IL
not hopeless. is at best bese, with
great difficulties
Long since, the expression. "a billion
dollar congress" was outgrown and
obsolete. Now, il is not sufficient to
, talk OF billion dollar session of con-
sress. Each regular session appro-
PIRATES more than a billion and each
congress, which meets in two regular
sessions and sometimes an extra ses-
| sion. appropriates over two billions.
Economy Talk Only Hot Air.
The opening OF every session Of con-
gress develops a lot of talk about
economy. But the end of every ses-
sion develops appropriations and au-
thorizauons which out-un those tina.
have gone before.
At this time, tho there is much econ
ony talk, It Is impossible to see how
the appropriations can be prevented
from far outrunning those of any pre-
ceding session OF congress.
| The increased army and navy ex-
penditures, which are almost certain
~. Will swell the appropriations large
~ But they are not the only mat
ters for consideration in this connec-
ton.
In the first place, the friends Of the
river and harbor bin and the friends
OF the public buildings bill are not
asleep. Far from being dormant, they
are extremely active. They are going
to fight for appropriations the coming
session and fight hard. II Will be by
no means easy 10 stave them OF. Mem
bers with elections but short way
ahead are going TO be clamorous for
large. luscious and juicy pieces of pork.
Talk OF budgets and disquis.tions on
the undesira bility OF deficits makes lit
tie difference to a member who Is
insistent on something for his district.
Wher il comes tic cutting down de-
psrtmental appropriations. this is df-
| hcul.. In most instances it can not
Y
| the public service. For instance. the
| pand!ng. To cur,ail its allowance to
any large extent Is impracticable.
Nearly every department can show
! legitimate fields Of expansion It IS
true that Nelson ". .Aldrich once said
! $500, 900 year could be saved un-
der sound business management but
neither Mr.. Aldrich nor any one else
i has shown specifically how this could
| be done as an actual, practical fact.
Revenue Bills Contemplated.
| Moreover, the administration has IN
| contemplation legislation which win
/ add to the outlay of the government.
The bill for the government owner
| ship Of merchant ships Is a striking
1 instance. Moreover, II is not without
| significance that while there is much
opposition to this measure, the oppo-
nents are not making much OF the
added expense to the government
which the bill would entail The OPP
position is based, down at bottom, on
! antagonism to the principle of govern
| ment ownership.
| If.there is rural credits legislation,
| this will probably involve some added
| expense. II the interstate commerce
| commission is enlarged. as proposed,
| that will be source of more outlay. II
a bureau of labor safety is created, II
! will mean additional appropriations
4 And so ii goes. Each time new gov
ornamental agency is created, each time
an additional governmental activity Is
! provided for, it is safe to say more
expense is piled up. Few there be, in
deed. who are SO patriotic as to serve
| Uncle Sam for nothing.