Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1937-04-01
HILL SAYS
NO "PORK''
(By Knute Hill

(By Knute Hill
Western farmers will be inter-
ested to know that some eastern
congressman refer to western rec
lamation projects as pork
Pork" in its congressional
sense. is some favor, some fund,
project, or like gratituity. that
congressman or senator is able to
wangle. from congress as his gift
to his diatrict or state. Usually
there are no strings attached and
thus tt is dubbed pork" for the
legislator who would bring home
the,-hacon'.
a few days ago IN the midst of
heated debate on the floor of the
House. was able to answer an
eastern congressman who referred
to the Coulee dam, the Bonneville
dam. and reclamation projects
such as the Yakima project, az
pork"
4 asked him TO look at the fig.
ures--that il he knew that from
- ITO IS per cent of all funds ex-
pended on the Yakima project
have already been paid back to the
government. It was unkind to do
so, but could not resist stating
that the western delegations wese
enthusiastic in supporting appro-
priations for the relief OF drouth
and flooded areas-not one cent
OF which funds will ever return to
the United States treasury.
also mentioned briefly that
much Of the funds expended On
the Coulee dam were being return
ed to other states for machinery
or materials to be used In the dam
construction built by funds .
come from the pockets Of Wash
ington farmers. Figures, as mat
ter Of fact. show that OF $11.l1o,.
62s spent for construction equip
ment and supplies during the first
two years OF construction. nearly
six and one-half million dollaxu
were spent In states east Of TIE
Rocky Mountains.
SO 1t seems that when tho truth
is brought to light, eastern states
are profiting during the construc.
ton period OF western reclama-
tion projects rs wsll az later, a.
manufacturers or wholesalers At
products consumed In irrigated
sections.
BY way of illustration to NY
remarks in the House. through
courtesy of e. f. Blaine, represent
Ing the Yakima chamber OF COM
merce. had tat, rosy "sxtrs
fancy delicious' eastern WASH
ington apple delivered 70 each
congressman at his office. A note
sent with the apple pointed out
that Washington raises 80 per
cent Of the commercial apples Of
Ethe United States on irrigated
lands. Also, that from four to
five million dollars worth of such
APPLES are shipped abroad annual
ly, bringing that amount Of for
eisn capital into our country. The
conclusion showed that In three
years time, the amount of money
so brought into our country ex-
ceeds the total cost OF all fedora,
reclamation projects in Washing
ton. And some said pork"
A Yakima valley rancher ones
wrote me letter often use to
retute such charges. The farmer
describes an average day and lists
few OF the eastern manufactur-
ed products he is dependent upon
IN his daily chores. Nearly every
state in the union plays a part IN
his day which begins when he Is
awakened by his alarm clock from
Connecticut" until such time an
he will make his last move in an
eastern made casket. borne by an
eastern made hearse and LAIR In a
plot dug with an eastern made
shovel. The list even includes the
headstone of Vermont marble.