The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-01-11
ASKS INQUIRY INTO
PORK BARREL LOBBY
Frear Charges That Steerers
in Washington Force Vast
ing of Millions.
RAILROADS ACCUSED TOO

WASHINGTON. Jan. 10.-A charge that
the National River and Harbor Con-
gress and like bodies have sought 10
bring improper influence to bear on
Congress for appropriations for the
provemen, of waterways Is made In Q
resolution offered In tho House to-day
BY Representative Frear. Republican, OF
Wisconsin. The resolution directs the
Committee on judiciary 10 inquire into
the operations of the River and Har-
Dor Congress. the Atlantic and QUIZ
Coast Dredge Owners Association n
the Mississippi River Levee Association.
II IL charged by inference that rail-
ways have attempted to prevent water
way Improvement legislation. The reso-
luton directs tho Judiciary COMMITTEES
to bring before IL ali witnesses who
have or assume to have any information
regarding the connection OF any railway
company directly or indirectly with the
opposition TO the passage OF river ana
harbor bills"
The River and Harbor Congress Is de-
scribed as "a lobby that IL alleged to
improperly urge the passage Of extrava-
CANT waterway bills by instituting back
fires in the various States against mem-
bers of Congress who are opposed to
such bills"
Lobby to Reclaim Private Land.
The committee is instructed TO lnvesti-
gate the activities OF the Missouri
River lobby" that rs said TO have an
active interest in securing %appropria-
tons for reclamation at Government ex-
pense OF 500. 600 acres OF private land
alnpU tho Nfias0ttrt pivA0 valuAd ar-
cord.nx to Official records. at $780,
100000"
Mr.. Frear introduced his resolution
In a speech In which he alta cked the
pork barrel method OF making river
and harbor appropriations.
The country has no waterway policy"
said Mr.. Frear. Appropriations are
obtained through II political pork bar
rel steered by a powerfui lobby now
actively at work in Washington, a lobby
that causes VIZ to waste man millions
Of public funds annually on useless prof.
ects OF private projects. some Of which
are not even distantly related to COM
merce pr navigation. Many waterway
lohbiee are on the ground rging their
respective schemes. and the lobby with
tn, strongest pull IL sure TO have the
inside track with Its projects.
Hi 10 Up again.
Last session this fact was disclosed
when the Mussel Shoals private water
power project. which Is to cost the Gov
eminent SIS. 700. 900. was forced into the
river and harbor bill just before its in
PRODUCTION. We defeated that project
on the floor. hu, II IL here again with
a tremendous lobby urging its insertion
in the new bill. Last year the press
made possible the defeat Of two vicious
bills, but with a dozen powerful Hobbies
pulling for local projects II is impossible
for the press or any considerable por-
ton Of Congress to expose for defeat
or pare down was'eful waterway billie.
THE only way to prevent this scan
dalous waste OF money Is to refer the
whole waterway question TO a high class
waterway board for administration
Every lobby will oppose the change and
every questionable project vii! protest
against Congress releasing it's ~'inal!en-
able prerogative.' but II seems the hest
means of escaping the enormous, waste
full waterway expenditures and pork
barrel methods now burden.ng the peo-
, pie"