The sun., 1917-01-07
1t Is Regarded Certain That
Bills Will Never Reach
President.
LATTER NOW AROUSED
Senator BOrah and Other Pro-
gressives Banded to Prevent
Passage of Measures.

bills are doomed to defeat. 1t Ia almost
the President. The latter has become
aroused himself about the insatiate pork
appctites of some OF the Southern Con-
gressmen and has made up his mind to
veto at least some Of them should they
come before him. but this is not likely
to happen.
Revelations concerning the pork" bills
framed by committees controlled by
Southern Democrats has stirred up GER
tain Progressive Senators to take action
that practically assures the defeat in the
Senate OF the two principal bills. the
omnibus public buildings bill. which dis
tributes $4,000 post Offices plentifully
among Southern crossroads, and the
river and harbor bill, in which the South
ern statesmen have shown the same con-
s!deration for creeks ana bayous with
commerce of floating logs.
The third of the pork measures. the
81. 900 flood reclamation project de-
signed to boost real estate along the
Mississippi, has had little or 10 chance
since its purely selfish and local char
acter was pointed out in THE Sun.
Antl-POrk Leaders.
Tie Senators who have agreed TO re-
s'st the passage of the pork bills are
the familiar groups of Progressives led
BY Senators Borah. Kenyon and Norris.
They have taken pledge to avail them
selves Of all their privileges under the
rule of unlimited debate and then EN-
ploy every legitimate means under Sem
ate procedure to destroy the pork bar
rel" at this session.
They will have the support Of others
and probably will receive some strength
from the Democratic side. The doors
are open for any other Senator who be-
lieves the time has come to call a halt
on the pork" raid and lend his efforts
TO break the barrel.
Since THE Sun first called attention
to the combined raid that was being
planned on the Federal Treasury under
the direction Of the Southern members
controlling the committees there have
been several conferences among the anti
pork Senators. with the result that they
are now banded together in carefully
aid plan that insures the defeat Of the
log rollers.
These Senators had planned to make
ment. but the pressure of other business
has prevented this so far. Such a state
ment. giving their reasons for opposing
these measures, will probably be issued
shortly. Senator Kenyon has already
made a record in the Senate against
pork barrel river and harbor appro-
priations.
His name is identified with the fight
made in the last session which forced
concessions from the pork" crowd, and
with the famous battles of Senator Bur-
ton Of Ohio against the useless pork"
extravaganza. After Senator Burton
went out Of the Senate Senator Kenyon
assumed the leadership of the fight in
which he had always been enlisted and
carried it on effectively.
Senator Borah has always opposed
this form of legislative extravaganza, as
has Senator Norris. Other Senators
among the Progressives will he found
giving their support to the movement.
strong Enough to Win.
With the brief time of the session re-
naming there is no doubt of the ability
OF the Senators named to prevent the
passage of the bills. The number of
those interested Is large enough to in
sure good working organization. A
group numerically smaller forced an
abandonment Of the pork" programme
in the previous session.
The action taken by the Progressive
group has not become generally known
10 their associates When it does 1t will
probably have a discouraging effect on
the men interested in passing the bills
for appropriations for buildings and
river and harbor Improvements. It may
mean that the two bills will be put away
IN mothballs and not brought out again
this session
Democratic revolt has already
started in the Administration circle
against the pork" programme following
upon THE Suns articles analyzing these
measures and the President Is reported
10 have taken a hand. He has not yet
been able to call off the legislation en-
trely
In the Senate and House certain Sena-
tors and members interested in keeping
down extravaganza as much as possible
nave been giving serious thought to the
subject of the two bills put under the
han by the Progressives and may have
sufficient influence with the pork"
propagandists to persuade them to curb
their appetites for this session.
Evidently anticipating the trouble and
to avoid the possibility OF fl!buster
during the closing days OF the expiring
'NSo'pl 1lt f1OuSe committee lS ulSDIdy-
Ing unusual haste in framing the river
and harbor bill Several new projects
we're considered by the committee to-day
and short shrift was made of the
projects OF members who have voted
against pork in the past. II Is ex-
pected by Chairman Sparkman that he
Will be able to report the completed
measure early next week.
CnfavOrable to Pork.
The House committee is obviously de-
termlned not to risk having the present
hlll talked to death. The short and
hnal session OF Congress has been I'M
favorable to "pork." During the Me-
kinley administration Senator Carter.
Montana. put an end to a $50. 900. 900
pork bill by occupying the time OF the
senate for the final sixteen hours OF
me session The Burton and Kenyon
munster against the river and harbor
bill two years ago Is still fresh I'm the
minds OF the pork advocates.
1ne course OF the pending bill from
me time II is reported will not he smooth.
u VIII be met by a broadside OF criti-
"sm In the House where the pork"
antagonists are preparing for lively
hght az they are in the Senate.
The same fate will overtake the pub
lie buildings bill which for the moment
II being held back until the public has
forgotten some of the more glarng
nNTl IN v,hieh attention, he q