The Monticellonian. [volume] (Monticello, Ark.) 1870-1920, 1917-01-18
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

BY GEORGE CLINTON.
Westinghouse dares one
day and does not dare the next. The
majority gets its courage screwed up
apparently to the sticking point and
then something comes TO make it re-
cede rapidly. Congress wants to pass
the omnibus buildings bill while the
president, ii is said, does not want 1t
10 pass. and one day ii makes up its
mind to pass 1t and the next day it
changes its mind.
Years ago the name pork WAS Civ
en- TO each of two measures which
come yearly before congress, the pub
lie buildings bill and the rivers and
harbors bill. It is needless. of course,
to say that many of the buildings for
whose erection provisions have been
made, and many of the rivers and har-
bors for whose Improvement money
has been voted, have been necessary
fer the good of the country.
The charge, however, from both
Democrats and Republicans all over
the United States is that proper dis
elimination Is not made by congress
between the good and bad propositions
contained In these measures. The
friends of such legislation always
spring ito its defense The row has
been going on for years.
1t has been pretty we'll understood
this year that President Wilson does
not want his party in congress to pass
the public buildings bill as it is at pres
writ
for the erection of federal buildings in
different parts of the country. The
necessity of economy is urged by some
members of both parties in house and
senate as Il reason for Withholding CON
sideration from the bill as ii has been
presented. Its proponents declare that
every item in the bin is justifable.
The struggle is on. If the bill passes
il is said that the president stands
ready to veto 1t, but this, of course. is
Il matter for future consideration.
All Projects in Bill.
The total number of projects pro-
vided for in the measure is AIT with
authorizations amounting to $3S, 1914 |
zoo, Public buildings and their con
struetion are under the control of the
treasury department, the secretary of
which in his estimates asks for au-
fluctuations of money for building pur
poses. In the present public building
bill the names of 81 towns and vii |
lagos appear of which the treasury de- |
partment made no mention in its re-
port In other words, congress, acting
on its own behalf. has gone far beyond |
the estimates submitted by Secretary
MeAdoo.
The officials of the government this |
year have said that nearly one-fourth /
of the entire building appropriation
is needless, unwise and extravaganza |
On the other hand, the members of |
congress who desire that these build |
ings shall be erected say that it is due |
To the people of the smaller towns in
the country that Uncle Sam should be |
represented throughout the land by |
proper buildings and by adequate facil- |
titles for all his purposes and that if |
the building is too big the needs of the |
places will grow to meet it. The basis |
of the argument really is however. |
that rs all the people are taxed for all
the federal buildings that the smaller
places should be given recognition and I
that Uncle Sam loses nothing by keep |
ing his nephews and nieces satisfied.
Want Parks Made Accessible.
A conference has Just closed in |
Washington which brought together
surprisingly interesting group of men |
and women. II was the National Parks |
conference.
There are many congresses or con-
lferences. call them what YOU will, in |
Washington every year but perhaps
more than all the others there at
ltaches to the National Parks Confer
ence what may be called the higher
human interest. The object of this |
conference is TO influence public opin-
ion in favor of national parks, and TO |
urge the necessary legislation to make |
the parks accessible 70 the people of
the country, to maintain them in
all their original beauty and gran
deur and to endeavor to find ways |
and means TO secure an eco |
monte hospitality within their limits
for Americans who are NOT blessed /
with great riches. In other words. the /
effort is to make the national parks /
truly national Fairgrounds
Let US take one of the meetings of |
this and enter the doors. 1t is even
ing and on the walls of the great hall
in the National Museum are hanging
The wonderful pictures painted by
American artists and setting forth the
,glories of color Of sky, mountain. tree
and valley Of the national parks of
America. The most famous of our ar
lists here are represented.
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