The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-02-07
Borah, Lenroot and Wads-
worth Lead Bitter Battle
Against Heavy Increase in
Appropriation--PoII of Sem
ate Shows Measure to Carry
SIX HOURS OF STRENUOUS
DEBATE HEARD IN SENATE|
WadsWorth Claims Army Isl
Being Neglected to Take
Care of ''Pork Barrel" Fund.
Friends of Proposition Make
Vigorous Reply to Charge
WASHINGTON BUREAU =,
THE AGE-HERALD (
Washington. ID. c.. Feb. q /

Despite bitter criticism of the
rivers and harbors item, amount
ing to $56,oOO,OOo, contained in
the army appropriation bill, the
item will be retained.
This fact was established today
after canvass of the Senate by
Senators Jones of Washington,
chairman of the committee on
commerce; Underwood of Alabama,
Harris of Georgia, and Dial of
South Carolina.
This item will, according to the
estimate of the army engineers,
take care of all river and harbor
projects in the south, the appro-
priation for each state ranging
from 100000 to $2,000,O00.
III the Senate this afternoon, The
rivers and harbors items was Sc
verely criticized by Senators .Borah,
Lenroot and wadsworth, the latter
being chairman of the military COM
mittee which reported the bill. While
Lenroot and Borah contented them
selves by declaring the item an in
stance of pork barrel legislation,
Wadsworth contended that perhaps
the House committee on appropria-
tons cut amounts levied for the army
in order to take care of prospective
increases in the amount suggested by
he ND ra fat ha al, 60, or
rivers and harbors."
The budget estimate was $1,000
900. The House made the amount
$56,0o0.000.
SIX HOURS DEBATE HEARD
WASHINGTON. Feb. 6.-(By Asso-
ciated Press --Considera of the
rivers and harbors provisions of the
annual army appropriation bill occu-
pied the Senate six hours today and
was still under discussion when re-
cess was taken.
Acceptance by the Senate commit
tee of an increase of more than 100
per cent in the item over the budget
bureaus estimate was attacked by
several senator's as embodying a
death blow to the whole budget
theory and was defended by others
as an effort to provide sufficient
funds for army engineers to carry
out carefully considered projects al
ready approved by Congress.
Senator Lenroot, republican, Wis
consin, newly appointed assistant
floor leader, declared that,the amend
ment meant a reversion of the estab-
fishing policy of lump sum appropria-
ton and added if adopted, the Sen
ate might as we'll go a step further
and repeal the budget law. He was
Joined by Senator Wadsworth, repub-
lican, New York, also assistant leader
and chairman of the subcommittee
which reported the bill. Mr.. Wads-
worth, opposing the attempt to make
specific appropriations for projects,
declared he was also entirely against
the increase in the lump appropria-
tion and as strongly in opposition to
its being attached to all of the army
bill.
that as result of the substantial
cuts which had been made in purely
military items, the United States
army has ceased to exist as SUCH"
I'VE cannot today mobilize 10000
men," he said. land the maintenance
of army activities as contemplated
under the national defense act is i'm
possible"
Mr.. Wadsworth recalled that the
army estimates last year suffered
the most severe slash in history"
notwithstanding this. he said, mate
rial cuts were made again this year,
perhaps with the idea that thus a
substantial increase could be made in
the rivers and harbors item without
so far exceeding the budget figures
Senator Caraway, democrat. Arkan-
sas, declared the lump sum idea
i nj hn nrlr r.