The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-12

They were on that section of the riv-
ers and harbors bill which called for
an appropriation of $4,000 for the
Altamba, Oconee and Ocmulgee said
to he somewhere in Georgia" and
there was good bit of fun and feel
ing running through the debate OF the
House members engaged. 1t was on
an amendment to strike ont the appro-
priation, The discussion was getting
bitter and disaster seemed to be hover
ing over the proposed appropriation,
when Uncle ADAM" meaning the Hon.
Adam b. Littlepage. of the Charleston
district, jumped into the breach, re-
stored peace and indicated the ternal
principle of appropriations following
the flag. II have heretofore taken but
little time of this House." said the
Lame Lion of Kanawha," but to my
mind very peculiar spectacle has
been presented in relation to this
amendment Here we have the infor-
nation before this House that a mil
lion people are interested in a stretch
of river from four to five hundred
miles long, and have secured in this
appropriation bill the pitiful sum OF
$4,000, in section of the country
where because of previous condition
the people are poor, a few on the mi
nority side have slipped into the Demo-
cratic side of the House and have got
ten the leaders of the Democratic party
TO desert, as 1t were. this committee,
and after having done that gentlemen
on the other side of the House have
seen cause to criticise and make fun OF
as good people as God Almighty ever
permitted to live. because they have
not the grandeur of steamboat that
costs S1,000.000. They make fun OF
the best those people have. That
criticism is unjust, unkind and unfair
to that southern country and its great
people, and l am astounded that men
Of caliber men in high position, should
criticise and move to strike out this
item which is recommended and re-
ported by the committee. Every man
is the architect of his own fortune in
this House! every man has his own
destiny to look after. ] do not get one
dollar for my district in this appro-
priatlon bill. We will get 1t later, II
entitled TO 1t. But when members
accuse others, either Theoretically or
directly. of being interested in a pork
barrel, | feel like rising and resenting
1t on behalf Of the entire membership
of the House on-either side who cher
ishes such dishonorable sentiment.
They say that they serve notice that
they are going to work politics. When
has the time ever been that they did
not work politics? Work 1t? OF course
they will The ma1ority--this side Of |
the House-ts responsible for tho leg
islation that occurs here, and I, for
one. though | am not as much inter-
ested ms others, am willing to stand |
up and take my part Of the responsi-
billty. What has grieved my heart Ia
to see my own people suffer them
selves to be deceived on this side of
the House. came here to stand |
hitched (applause), came here to
stand by the committees Of this House |
(applause). came here believing
that the great leaders OF this House |
would not appoint upon the commit
tees any but the best men. and 1t seems
TO me that the report Of this commit
tee should be sustained (applause). !"
And, slrs, the report of the commits
ice was sustained forthwith. and the
ardent and devoted friends of the
anhydrous Altamba. the ochreous
Oconee and the osculant waters d the
ocmulgee gathered arorNd and about
the rew-founl champion of the three