Gilpin observer., 1915-01-28
WASHINGTON NEWS
BY Edward Heating.

rel went through the House of Rep
resentatiyes on January, 10, by a
vote OF i64 to 81. 1t carried about
$54 900, 900.
This is easily the most vicious
piece of legislation presented to this
Congress. Its opponents hope 1t will
be talked to death in the Senate.
Last September Congress was strus
Cling with another Rivers and Har-
bors pork barrel" At one time it
called for eXpenditures-imm
and contingent--aggregat $85000.-
900, but the publicity which was CIV
en- it's various items aroused such
storm Of public Indignation that its
sponsors finally capitulated and ac
cepted S2O,0OO. 900 to be expended fun-
der the supervision of the army engin
eers. Before this result could be
achieved number of senators were
forced to talk against time for sew
eral days. When it becme apparent
that they could not be exhausted, the
surrender was arranged.
A "Pork" Steam Roller.
The bill which passed the House
on January 10 was vigorously op-
posed, but those who had secured
some of the pork" constituted
majority and under the rules they
were soon able to enforce their will.
For days Frear of Wisconsin (Re-
publican) and Galloway of Texas
(DemocraD riddled the bill and of
fersd amendment after amendment.
So powerful was the pork ring that
only one amendment of importance
was adopted and the bill was put
through the House practically as it
came from the committee.
The recognized rule for construct
ing rivers and harbors pork bar
rel is ridiculously simple.
Congressman Mann, the leader of
the Republican minority described it
facetiously during the recent debate.
He said the committee felt it need
ed certain number of votes to pass
the bill. 1t gave some Members
prize packers-real appropriations
daries of their districts. Less for
tunate members re eived Consolation
prizes" in the shape of authorize
tions for Surveys" for contemplated
projects.
But whether a man received a
prize package or a Consolation
Prize" he was supposed to stand
tied for every item in the bill.
That's the first rule of the pork bar
rel" game
If you want something for your dis
trict you must learn to keep your
mouth shut and not criticise your
brother who is anxious to expend a
little of the nations surplus wealth
on the creek which meanders by his
town.
Roar Of the "Sorehead."
In the bill under discussion there
are more than 200 prize packages"
and 172 consolation prizes"
The committee began its distrib
ution away up in northern Maine and
followed the Atlantic. coast line to
INty Ntsts luth IL WOIhtu
the Gulf coast, taking an occasional
trip up some river which touched the
district of a member with pull" or
persistency. II wound up by dropping
generous quantities of pork along
the Pacific coast and sending a few
pieces to our colonies and insular
possessions.
Occasionally. a member was over
looked and his protests were loud
and long. One Of these disgruntled
gentlemen pointed out that only 16
of the As states were represented on
the Rivers and Harbors committee
and that these commonwealths were
given $20.479.460 as against $6.722.-
100 for the other 80 states, Porto
Rico and Hawaii and $685. 900, for
the Mississippi river. Evidently. he
wanted the House to believe that
the makers of pork barrel" knew
how to retain possession Of the more
desirable OF the prize packers"
A Sample Of Expenditure.
Congressman Frear insisted that
the government had expended ST..
223,000 on a 20O-mile stretch OF the
Mississippi river-from the mouth of
the Ohio to the mouth OF the Mis-
souri, yet the pending bill called for
$500. 900 more.
I'VE have spent more money on
this portion Of the Mississippi than
the Prussian government has expend-
ed on the whole Of the River Rhine"
said Frear. yet they carry 200 times
as great tonnage on the Rhine as
we do on this section OF the Missis-
sippi. The fact is that the Missis-
sippi has a sufficient channel to car