The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-01-09
Democrats Virtually Place
Themselves on Record
to Oppose Bills.
NEWLANDS LEADS FIGHT
He Offers Resolution Pledging
Party to Keep Within
Federal Needs.

the serious condition threatening the
Treasury. Democratic Senators at
caucus this evening virtually placed
themselves on record as being against
any pork" measures going through at
this session. The action came as some-
what of a surprise and is bound to cause
wailing among the pork hunters" in the
House. who had been expecting support
in the Senate.
The caucus was in session until i'd
night, but almost the entire evening was
spent in discussing economy. A number
of Senators made speeches. pleading with
their party associates to cooperate in
keeping down appropriations. Finally
Senator Newlands proposed the resolution
which was generally accepted as notice
to the porkers to quit.
The resolution stated that II was the
sense of the Democratic conference that
the Appropriations Committee be sup
ported in its efforts to prevent increa-cs
beyond the actual needs of the Govern
ment and as far as possible to obtain de-
creases."
Bound by the Rule.
Under the binding rule of the caucus
H
their personal interests may be, will be
obliged now to oppose bills that call for
large sums outside of the regular appro-
priation bills.
1t is believed that this means the
death of the flood reclamation bill as
well as the public buildings and river
and harbor bills, should the latter ever
reach the Senate. 1t is understood that
al the caucus reference was made to the
III
and the bad light in which they were
placing the party in view of the threat
ened Treasury deficit.
So much time was spent in discussing
this matter that the caucus had to leave
the question of other legislation to be
put through at this session to a future
conference. After giving its approval to
the Walsh power bill the caucus ad-
journed.
In their efforts to put through Congress
a s3S,000.000 omnibus public buildings
bill carrying with it many $4,000 post
offices for hamlets and crossroads with
Insignificant postal receipts pork chas-
ing Congressman at this session have
been greatly embarrassed by the Treas
ury Department. which has been unkind
enough to place pork labels on many
of their pet projects.
Apparently with a view OF removing
this annoyance Representative Clark,
Florida, chairman of the Committee on
. Public Buildings. has been conducting
correspondence with officials of the
Treasury Department in which he has in
effect told them ITO mind their own
business"
Chairman Clark's Action.
The practice of the Treasury Depart
ment of sending back bills calling for
! the erection of post offices at Southern
1 crossroads labelled pork" has appar-
! entity so displeasSd Chairman Clark tina,
| he went so far as to serve notice that In
! seeking to pass judgment on projects
| the Treasury officials have been exceed
( ing their powers: that what projects
were advisable was entirely matter fol
! Congressman to decide, and that IL the
! committee desired information as to the
views OF the Department II would asF
! for it.
1t was not until The present public
! buildings bill began to assume shape a
! the hands Of Chairman Clark that tht
! Treasury Department adopted this prac
! tice In previous years no one apparently
! had the temerity to point out what wa:
pork" and what was not in such meas
ures. Just how embarrassing the new
! practice has been to Mr.. Clark and hi
associates Is shown in letter whicf
| Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
Byron r. Newton has just sent to Rep
! resentative Frear.
, Mr. Frear was inspired by the revela
tions in THE SUN concerning this pork
barrel to ask the Treasury Department
If Information as to the probable ex
pense of the projected post offices ha'
been available at all times
This request" wrote Mr.. Frear, ii
made because it seems incredible tina
the committee or Congress would author
ize buildings at places where the main
tenance cost will reach from three t
ten times the present cost, as shown b,
the estimates submitted by your De
partment."
In his reply, dated December 20, As
s!stant Secretary Newton wrote that Il
re sporting on the bills which constitute
the omnibus measure, the Department
had furnished estimates of the cost O
maintenance of buildings in small vii
lages, "but had received several letter
from the chairman of the Committe
on Public Buildings and Grounds re
auesting the Department to refrain fror
incorporating the information in its re
port and stating that the committee de
sires simply the estimates as to probabl
cost of the proposed buildings"
Question of Duty.
The, letter continues: "The Depart
ment, believing, however. that it wa
its duty to give Congress the benef
of this information. continued embody
ing an estimate as to the cost of mar
tenance of all buildings of the classe
above referred to-,
THE Department had In mind tn
fact that with the enactment Of eac
. successive omnibus bill the number
post office buildings In small cornmun
,, ties had increased with correspondin
cost to the Government. while in eve
ratio th1 necessity for relief in tn
cities and larger towns was ncreasin
and the rental charges to the Govern
ment for outside space all the time wei
, growing.
Being in position to focus more acc,
rately upon this condition and to for,
, see the effect of still further extendin
, II, the Department felt warranted
giving to Congress any and all inform,
tion along these lines for Its considers
} tion in dealing with the public building
| situation.
: 'The Department felt further that
. Wight he subjected to criticism for "
5 erection Of buildings In places, where Il
. Federal activities did not appear to wa
) rant the same and that II should pro-
I erly set forth in Its report all fac