River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1916-04-13
The River and
HarbOr Bill Again

During all of last week the river
and harbor bill had its inning be-
fore the House. All the dry creeks
and dry rivers that have occupied
the attention of Congress during
last session were again given a hear
ing. Again also their defenders
came to the front frequently insist
ing it is not commerce that should
determine rights to an appropria-
ton, but the principle urged where
no commerce has developed relates
to securing a fair share Of the APP
preparations compared with what
other states are receiving. In a
bill aggregating $50, 100000, Wis
consin ought by this standard to get
two million dollars more because it
contributes about per cent of the
amount paid by all the states into
the federal treasury and has the
second largest waterway commerce
in the country. AS a matter Of fact
about $500, 900 is carried in the bill
for Wisconsin.
Of course addition and division of
public funds by pork barrel methods
Of distribution is Objectionable, but
it is one Of the arguments frequent
ly urged on the floor.
The writer has been constantly en-.
gagged in an effort to disclose condi-
tions and in an effort to improve
them, many changes have been
brought about during the past two
years but the present bill is as bad
as it's last predecessor and ought to
be defeated. 1t will pass the House
by vote largely made up by South
ern States that get the bulk Of APP
preparations but the time has been
we'll spent in fixing public attention
on bad and wasteful system.
The nitrate plant proposition in
volving some $24 100000 which was
struggled into the House Army Bill,
at the instance Of a Southern Water
Power Company, and afterwards
stricken out, has been before the
Senate. 1t is being fought by Sena-
tor Kenyon of Iowa and others who
have made an investigation of the
subject, with fair prospect OF
again being defeated at the other
end of the Capitol. AS previously
stated, it is the same old Muscle
Shoals waterway power grab which
carried an appropriation last session
of $18, 700. 900 and was stricken out
of the last river and harbor bill in
the House. 1t keeps bobbing up reg
ularly, first in one bill and then in
another
One day last week, by a remark
able coincidence, | received six or
eight letters from different parts of
the district, urging me to appear
before House committee on that
same day in advocacy of bill which
| had not seen but in which the par
ties were interested 1t would prob
ably afford no satisfactory explana-
ton to say that on that same day the
House had before it the vicious pork
barrel bill and the writer remained
on the job continuously throughout
particularly long and hard session.
The world is self centered and the
bill before Congress that seems most
important to different individuals is
usually that in which their personal
interest is entered. With ten thou
sand bills introduced it may be I'M
derstOod that attention to specific
measures is often impossible unless
the bills are Of national Importance.
The average member tries to cover
the ground as far as possible but if
he is honest with his constituents he
will show the impossibility Of COM
plying with many demands made
upon him.
Several days ago nine former
ard present residents Of st. Croix
county met for few minutes
for an informal reception among
themselves. This is me tior I'd
to show that with State home
folks visiting New York, Florida,
and all Eastern points, hardly day
passes without someone from our
section Of the Badger state putting
in an appearance. Needless to say
they are always welcome.