The sun., 1916-12-19
$s6,OOO,0OO PORK
BILL LIKELY TO PASS
Worst Measure Of Kind in His
tory Is to Be damned
Through Congress.
PRESIDENT MAY VETO 1T
Nine-tcnths Of the Proposed
Public Buildings Are
Unnecessary.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-Althoush the
country apparently is facing a. serious
deficit for the next fiscal year a cry for
pork has gone up from members Of
Congress at this session. The result IL
that the omnibus public building bill.
now before the House. seems likely to
pass unless President Wilson resorts to
stern measures.
The present bill would call for an ex-
penditure Of upward OF $1,000 900 for
post offices. ninc-tcnths Of which. accord
ing to officials Of the Post once Depart
ment and Treasury Department, are en-
tlrciy unnecessary. In fact, h bill Is
pronounced by experts who have an
alyzcd II as the worst instance Of at
tempted pork legislation In the history
Of the country.
Despite a warning by Secretary Nc
Adoo Of the serious financial condition
OF the Treasury and "A severe arraign-
nient Of previous pork bills In his an
nual report, Representative Clark. Flor
ida, In charge Of the present bill. is
threatening to secure a rule limiting
debate on the measure In order to jam
It through.
Wilson Likely to Veto II.
Inasmuch as few. IL any. Congress-
men have been left out In the distrlbu-
ton Of pork In this bill. there seems
small likelihood of serious opposition to
such a course. What fate II would have
In the Senate Is still a matter OF doubt.
II Is almost certain. however. that the
President. II the bill ever reaches him
In its present form. will veto II.
The present bill apparently marks the
extreme limit to which The policy. first
embarked on In 1903 Of grouping merit
, orious projects with one that is purely
wasteful has been carried.
In the present bill fewer large cities
are provided for than ever before. while
crossroads throughout the country are
to be marked with monumental buildings
costing anywhere from $4,000 to $780,
600.
There are more than 400 buildings or
sites for which appropriations are made,
More h a half Of these represent, II Is
alleged. a pure and simple case OF
pork; that is. they would not be bull,
solely on the ground Of public neces.
sity.
Analysis Of the Measure.
An analysis of the bill made by Treas,
ury Department experts and representa-.
tives OF the Post Office Department IL
fact shows that over 500 Of the building.
contemplated could not be erected with
any profit to the Government.
The appropriations for these building
and sites amount 10 $500. 900, ant
would involve a total annual main
tenance charge to the Government, 1t II
estimated. Of Sl.490. 900. These building.
would take the place of ented quarter.
amply sufficient. II Is declared, for pres
cnt n prospective needs. the total rent
ing charge being at present only $3.50,
900. or about one-ffth Of what II will
cost the Government TO maintain tn,
buildings projected.
Pork" apparently knows no partisan
ship. Every Congressman, II would ap
pear. has been invited ~ lake a few
Alices In the hope that their votes viii
thereby be secured. but In the distri
button Of items I'm the bill the less popu
lous States have Jared AS we'll. II no
better. than the larger ones.
System's Iniquity shown.
The most conspicuous example OF IN
iniquity Of the present system is AT
forded perhaps In the case OF Hazard
Ky. Hazard has a population OF 537. 1t
present post Office receipts In q yea
amount to less than $1,000.
At the present time the Government |
paying $3.50 a year rent for the post OF
fee at Hazard. yet Congressman Lang
Ina, In vvhNcA AteNrinN ua.,- l. -.A