The Washington times., 1917-01-04
ARCHITECTS OPEN
FIGHT UPON PORK
Want Expert Commission to
Frame Public Building
Policy of U. S.
EVILS OF SYSTEM CITED
Building Bills Used as Political
Wedge to Further Per-
sonaI interests.


sonaI Interests.
The time-honored pork barrel is to
be placed out in the alley for the
ash. man to tote away, if movement,
started by the American Institute of
Architects, to have pork eliminated
as factor in the political life OF the
United States, is carried through at
this, or at any subsequent session of
Congress.
The architects want the President
empowered to appoint an expert COM
mission to frame a public building
policy for the United States. They
adopted a resolution to this effect at
a recent convention, and copies have
been sent to all Senators and Con-
gressmen. The movement also has been
carried to professional ranks, to in
clude the recommendation of lawyers,
business men, and educators for bet
ter building policy for the Federal
Goverpment'
VIII Welcome Commission.
Undoubtedly the Treasury Depart
ment will welcome the appointment
of an expert commission, as urged in
the resolutions adopted by the Amer
lean Institute of Architects, says a re-
cent bulletin of the society.
In setting forth reasons why the
pork barrel should be removed as a
fixture in the halls of Congress the
architects call attention to the fact
that the supervising architect of the
Government now has under considera-
ton plans for more buildings than
can be constructed by 1920.
Other facts which are cited as fav-
orabIe to the argument are the fol-
lowing:
Every year the omnibus public
buildings bill, containing authorize
tions for the construction of build
ings and Government offices costing
millions of dollars, comes along to
distract Congress at times when
usually greater things are demanding
its attention.
Bill Has Advantages.
ANY Congressman may introduce
bill in Congress calling for an ap-
preparation for a public building, to
convince his constituents that he is
not asleep on his job. Such a bill has
many advantages, whether Congress
ever decides to pass 1t or not. Copies
of the bill may be franked to thous-
ands of constituents for the purpose
of impressing them with the Con-
gressman's devotion. Many bills prob
ably find their way into Congress for
| no other purpose.
ssEven IL they are reported favor
ably, as rs many times the case. they
| are far from passage, as the efforts
of many Congressman seem to be de-
voted at times TO prevent a vote on
the omnibus public buildings bill. n
bill is reported favorably, the I'm
preston created back home is as
favorable TO the Senator or Congress-
man as though the bill had become a
law. II 1t is never passed he can lay
the blame at the door of other mem
bers of either branch of Congress who
may have contributed in some small
way to prevent its passage"
Show AbsurdIty OF Idea.
The institute then cites figures
showing how absurd the idea appears
of appropriating large sums for Gov
eminent buildings in cities where pos
tai and other receipts do not
justify such improvements. 1t
charges that Congressman always ask
for an exerbitant amount, knowing
Congress will insist upon its being
reduced before allowing it to go into
the general bill.
At the last session OF Congress
Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives asked for $66, 100000 worth OF
public buildings, as compared to S44,-
10000 requested by the minority Of
both branches of Congress.
It is claimed these figures are
grossly in excess of what the needs
of the respective communities really
are and a protest is raised against
this Extravaganza.
"Pork- as Political Wedge.
There can be no honest doubt, says
the Journal of the American Institute
of Architects, that Congress is DELHI
erately using pork" as a political
wedge to further personal interests.
The public treasury is often drained
to meet the expenses of building suit
able edifices to house the Govern
ment's workers, and in rare instances,
when communities really need i'm
provements, their needs are subor-
dinated to the political whims of some
other more fayorite section of the
country, the Journal charges.
The cutlery against pork" had be-
come so nationwide, says the Jour
nal, that it was not deemed wise to
do more on the eve of a general cleo
ton than to report the bill.
Now that the election is over the
journal observes, it probably will be
thought safe enough to pass the bill
and allow Congressman to make good
on their prediction statements.