Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-07-03
BRINGING HOME THE "PORK"
The following conclusive argument in favor OF the
location of naval base at the mouth Of the Columbia
near Astoria, appeared in yesterdays Oregonian

location OF naval base at the mouth Oh the CuqmDa
near Astoria appeared in yesterdays Oregonian:
Columbia River Why about ANYTHING He was thmrntF RE- Re-
that tms torspttsnh Of
When +, considers % that that it it, s q s oS S o1s o''fS% S
service rendered he well cheer up
The Oregon senators may or may not favor the estab
shment of naval base at Astoria. There may be good
reasons for opposing it, although Lane has introduced
naval base bill and Chamberlain is quoted as saying ne
is doing what he to pass tbu that to be expected
United States senators at best only human and II they
had good reasons for opposing the move would no doubt
lack the courage to follow their honest convictions
Portland and Astoria papers are abusing the officials
of the navy because they refuse forthwith to establish
naval base at the mouth of the Columbia river They
are also hammering away at the Oregon delegation be-
they do not influence the officials to take such
step, charging that they lack enthusiasm in the cause
This is only another illustration of pork barrel ideas
of government expenditure of funds What is wanted by
the promoters of this naval base scheme is not so much
the naval base but the money it will cause to be expended
in the Columbia river territory for the establishment and
maintainance of this base. They do not stop to think
that is the wise and patriotic duty OF American citizen
ship to allow the army and navy officials to work out
broad and general plan for defense and oense in case OF
war; and place the army posts and naval bases where
they will best the purpose intended Ii Astoria Is
the proper place for naval base the officials will no doubt
select that site as their plans for the greater navy are
developed If not they should not be hammered by abuse
and unjust criticism into making selection that is
unfit.
Secretary Daniels has suggested that the mouth OF
the Columbia might be desirable site for submarine
base which would logical and sensible idea. The
principal naval base the Pacific coast undoubtedly
should be located near San Francisco bay its most i'm
portant and central port and two or three submarine
bases to the north and south would afford ample protec
ton to the coast since the European war has proven the
important part the submarine will play in warfare
of the future.
But the Astoria and Columbia river realty boomers
are after the pork and they going to bring it home
if they can The socaled naval base commissioner
sent on to Washington canddly admitted before the
chamber of commerce of one of the Willamette Valley
cities that he was working first of all for his own
financial interests. Now he is abusing the Oregon SEN
ators through the press because he alleges they not
showing sufficient enthusiasm in the big real estate boom
scheme 1t is another treasury raid under the alurng
pretense of national prepaledness-and the country
might well begin to be prepared for an epidemic Of
similar raids.
And while the subject of the pork barrel" in fed
eral appropriations it might be well to speak of another
When they are right here at home can understand
them better. Representative Macarthur informs the
Portland papers that he hopes to secure SOOO for an
automobile loop road around the base of Mount Hood to
connect with the Columbia river scenic highway. Great
public necessity isn't it?
If this OF similar item was included in Foridas
share of the congressional treasury raid the Oregonan
would howl pork long and loudnow it will have only
words of commentator for Macarthur If he succeeds IN
bringing home million dollars worth of pork.
1t was always that wayprobaby 1T always will be-
but the people may rest assured that national, state