The Washington times., 1916-03-27
FREAR AND THOMPSON
CLASH BEFORE FORUM
Congressman Charges River
ard Harbor Body With
Sponsoring "Pork Barrel"

A spirited tilt between Congress
man Frear of Wisconsin, who made
, an "anti-pork barrel" speech, and 3.
A. Thompson, secretary treasurer OF
the National Rivers and Harbors Con-
gresa, marked the meeting of the
Grover Cleveland Community Forum
at the Public Library yesterday after
noon.
CongressInan Frcar charged the
Rivers and Harbors Congress With
sponsoring appropriations In excess
OF the amount needed for the projects,
named, and Mr.. Thompson said the
speakers remarks had been aimed
at a former official of the congress-.
Mrs. Robert NJ. La Toilette and Mrs.
Benton MacKaye were other speakers.
a, J Driscoll, president OF the forum,
presided,
Scores Motives of Some.
Congressman Frear scored the mo-
tives of citizens and organizations
asking for large appropriations for
streams that do not carry q tenth of
the commerce OF the Potomac"
The speaker then cited examples OF
appropria lions for improvements that
would be OF small beneft ana conclud-
600 for a stream for which engineers
have recommended that artesian wells
he sunk to furnish IL with water"
- He read from speech by .cept. j.
T. Ellison, former secretary-treeAurer
Of the congress- as follows:
1--WE send Congressman here to leg
islate for the nation theoretically, but
actually to get all they can for us, and
II one does not get our share and then
some. we do our best to replace him."
At that point Congressman Frear
concluded and Mr.. Thompson demanded
recognition. President Driscoll declined
to grant the floor until Mrs. MacKaye
had concluded.
son said the Congressman had at
tackled his friend, Captain Ellison.
why did the speaker stop with half
truths?" he asked. "He only used a
part Of one paragraph OF the address by
Captain Ellison"
Then Mr.. Thompson proceeded with a
rapld-fire refutation of Congressman
Frear's arguments, and started a dis
cussion OF the comparative cost OF
water and rail transportation.
Says People Are Swindled.
Congressman Frear had started away,
but he was caught and told that his
statements were being attacked He re-
turned to, the platform. and. when Mr..
Thompson had concluded. the Wisconsin
member said:
1.-THE people of this country are being
swindled every year through these
wasteful alleged river and harbor APP
preparations. | can prove and have
written into the Record every fact |
have stated. l also can show a letter
signed by the gentleman (Mr. Thomp-
SOM, written to the Central Lumber
Company, of Hudson. wis. asking them
TO get their Congressman to support
pork barrel bill for 100000"
Congressman Frear also asserted he
could prove that In some cases ono
half OF the contributions made, when
solicited by the Nationa! Rivers and
Harbors Congress. was paid to the col
lectors who secured these contrib ut .ons
for the continuance of the work of the
congress.
Mr.. Thompson made no reply to Con-
gresham trear's second talk.
Mrs. La Toilette, In making an urgent
plea for the community forum In this
city, read statement by Henry Ford
approving the community center idea.
Mrs. MaclSaye asserted that petty pro-
vincialisms" arc largely responsible
for the pork barrel abuses. She rap
ped the Shields water power measure.
A picturesque touch was given to the
meeting by the presence of party of
Blackfeet und Choctaw Indians