The Delta independent., 1917-01-19
FIGHT PORK BILL
OPPONENTS OF PUBLIC BUILD.
ING MEASURE SAY MANY PROF.
ECTS ARE NEEDLESS.
Congress Wants to Make Big Appro
priations but Has Trouble Getting
Its Courage Screwed Up to Il
Sticking Point.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.


majority gets its courage screwed up
apparently to the sticking point and
then something comes to make 1t re-
cede rapidly. Congress wants to pass
the omnibus buildings bill while the
president, it is said, does not want II
to pass, and one day it makes up its
mind to pass ii and the next day il
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. 1t 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
for 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
been going on for years.
1t has been pretty well understood
this year that President Wilson does
not want his party in congress to pass
the public buildings bill as it is at pres
ent written. 1t calls for S3S,000,OOU
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 a reason for Withholding con
sideration from the bill as it has been
presented. Its proponents declare that
every item in the bill is justifiable.
The struggle is on. If the bill passes
it is said that the president stands
ready to veto it, but this, of course. Is
a matter for future consideration.
All Projects in Bill.
The total number of projects pro-
vided for in the measure is All with
authorizations amounting to $3S,794.
700. Public buildings and their con
struction are under the control of the
treasury department the secretary of
which in his estimates asks for au-
thorizations of money for building pur-
poses. In the present public building
bill the names of 81 towns and viii
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
McAdoo.
The officials of the government this
year have said that nearly one-fourtb
Of the entire building appropriation
is needless, ukwise and extravagant.
On the other hand, the members of
congress who desire that these build.
ings snail be erected say that 1t 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-
tiles 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 as all the people are taxed for all
the federal buildings that the smaller
places should be given recognition and
that Uncle Sam loses nothing by keep
ing his nephews and nieces satisfied.
Want Parks Made Accessible.
conference has just closed Ia
Washington which brought together a
surprisingly interesting group of men
and women. 1t was the National Parks
conference.
There are many congresses or con-
ferences, call them what you will, in
Washington every year. but perhaps
more than all the others there at
taches to the National Parks Confer
ence what may be called the higher
human interest. The object of this
conference Is to influence public opin-
lon In favor of national parks, and to
urge the necessary Legislation to make
the parks accessible to 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-
nomic 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.
Gathered to look at the pictures and
to listen to the addresses from scien-
lists, educators and nature lovers on
the yulun of tho IlaIks tho