Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1916-04-04
CUTTING OUT THE PORK.

All of us. except when we happen
to bc interested In some scheme for
which the help OF congress must be
involved, are decidedly In favor OF
finding u way TO take away the
temptation that pork offers To the
average congressman, Whether we
are sincere In this desire depends on
how FAR wo are willing to mako sac
rifices OF our pot desires in order to
accomplish the bost good to the
whole people 1t is of no use to
preach about purifying our congress
men until wo proceed to purify that
congrossman's constituency. II we
are willing TO give up our share OF
the pork in order that the pork idea
may be abolished altogether. 1t Is
worth while for us to clamor for
reform. but il is not worth while to
denounce everybody else for shining
when we are not willing to swear off
on our own account. one of the
favorite prescriptions for abolishing
pork is the budget idea. This would
make the matter OF appropriations
the breeding place of the pork
Notwithstanding to be largely
regulated by the recommendation of
the heads OF the various govern
mental departments. These official
figures would not be mandatory
upon congress only insofar as they
placed a maximum limit on the ex-
penditures authorized for any spe-
cific purpose. Congress might trim
down the budget, but it could not
expand 1t. 1t is reasonable to be
supposed that the members of the
mates would not be subjected to the
same temptations to legislate money
into the pockets of a favored few as
are the members of congress who
arc dependant on the favor of the
voters in their district for contin-
uance in office, and If they did over
step the bounds of reason there is no
doubt the congressman would not be
slow to use the pruning knife.
The very reason that the pork evil
exists is because the congressman
naturally desires to cultivate the
favor of his constituents by seeing
after the schemes IN which they are
financially interested, whether or not
such schemes are consistent with the
general good. The substitution of
the budget system of appropriation
would undoubtedly remove this in
centive to mercenary legislation, If
it did nothing more. 1t does not
necessarily follow that other evils
might not ensue because of the
change, but that is a matter that can
be determined by trying. One thing
is pretty certain-if it is no longer
profitable for congressman to
bribe the electors of his district by
monetary favors there will no
longer be such rush of mercenary
politicians to fill congressional po-
sitions and we might expect a
cleaner and more sincere member
ship of the national legislature.
There would still be room for
some corruption, however, for the
privilege of dispensing positions as
rewards for political favors would
remain, but If the right kind of men
can be induced to serve in a repre-
sentative capacity there is no deny
ing that even this evil would be re-
duced to minimum. We cannot
expect the millennium just yet,
neither can we expect to make any
legislative arrangements whereby all
men will be made pure and Just. nor
all officials honest and sincere
Whenever the people who elect our
congressman make up their minds to
be patriotic and unselfish in their
own desires, then we can look for n
new brand of congressman who will
bo honest and supremely mindful of
the national good above all sect;oro,
considerations or personal advantage
and not until then.