Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-02-25
Circulation Every 1100Q
Evening Yesterday l4UUO
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY, 20, iszl-
HANDS OFF THE PORK BARREL.

4
HANDS OFF THE PORK BARREL.
Reports from washinEton state that
,t q Republican caucus which will be
hold In Washington Monday an at
tampt viii be made TO abolish tho single
committee on appropriations In the
House of Representatives. and 70 return
70 the old. discredited practice of par
oelins out appropriation bills among
number of committees.
This is an effort on the part Of certain
rpembers OF the Republican party 90
.'back-sude" on their promises. and TO
return 10 the old pork barrel manner OF
making appropriations. Mr.. Harding
IN particular. and the Republican party
IN general. are pledged TO tho budget
Man. The President has given his
solemn promise that he will do all with
in his power 10 place the United States
c,overnnent on a business footing, and
to aid in abolishing the wasteful
methods OF the past.
1t appears. to judge by the dispatches
from Washington. that certain Of Mr..
Hardings supporters think that the
budget movement was only temporary
one. and that there is no longer a
demand for this plan. They therefore
wish to make Of II an unkept campaign
promise. and regain their hold on APP
propriations through the restitution in
the House Of numerous appropriation
committees.
These gentlemen, who would knife the
budget plan. are mistaken. The demand
for s. national budget was not a tenn
porary one 1t was well defined
movement which has continued TO grow
II is safer 10 say that 100 per cent OF
Americas business men. excluding
those who wish TO obtain fat contracts
rom the Government. are behind H.
Joseph H. Dufrees. President Of the
chamber Of Commerce Of the United
states. has made public an earnest APP
peal for the enactment OF this law. The
majority Of business and professional
clubs in the country went on record
lAs< year as endorsing Il, and both polit-
ioaI parties promised TO lend their aid
IN enacttns the measure.
This question Of a national budget
transcends party politics. It means
nothing more or less than that our
Government be conducted In a business
way. Just as any large business corpo-
ration would be handled There is no
possible argument against the plan.
Common sense and business experience
demand q budget law.
II Mr.. Harding VIII forget petty party
uolitscs. snt REMAINDER the promise
which he once made. he Will pass the
vu-d 10 Washington that the caucus
which Will be held Monday must keep
rs hands of Of the single committee
On appropriations II the House. Bnsi-
ness men who are Republicans. as well
as those who vote the Democratic
ticket, will have cause for alarm II the
old wusteful method OF having q score
Of committees voting away the people
money is again adopted.
Ny. Harding must realize that the
time TO keep this promise IS now. II
is too much TO expect that certain petit
Jogging politicians IN the Capitol VIII
Keep the Republican partys promises.
Their noses are sighted toward the
pork barrel. and nothing but the power
Of the President-elect can keep them
dipping into It
We have. said II before, and We re-
peat that Mr. Harding has an oppor-
tunity to become one Of Americas
greatest Presidents. Three average
men before him. Cleveland Harrison.
ard Mckinley. developed into states
men OF the FIRST class when they were
invested with the responsibility Of the
Presidency Even the friends OF MIR
Harding have said that ne is only an
average man" but that does not mean
that he must remain an average man.
he may become truly great; ne has
the chance to make a splendid start by
letting IL be known that he intends to
safeguard the publics money, and not
permit it 10 be squandered by score
of lean and hungry committees around
the pork barrel.
Mr.. Harding is to be the President
OF the whole people. and not merely Of
the Republican party. Let him assert
himself on this budgetery measure, let
him give the command for his hench-
men to keep hands off that appropria-
ton committee. and overnight he will
have won 10 himself the loyal support