The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-05-21

tions-at the same time indicatin that 1t was the responsibility of the people In the House and Senate tc make the cuts.
 Economy Is one of those noble ideals that everybody believes in but nobody does anything about.
 One congressional war horse, Ro. bert r, Rich of Woolrich, Pa, gets up in the House at least once every day and angrily derides the Con- gross for Its extravaganza. But he has performed so many times his thick skinned colleagues pay no at- tention.
 WHEN ECONOMY
 HITS HOME
 Other harpers on economy, per. haps realizing that Rich overdoes his stuff, come in only now and then for a trade, John Tabor of Au- burn, N. r., ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, has coined the phrase "anti-de. fense" spending for some of the luxuries of IVA, WPA and the food stamp plan. Tho name may stick
 Everett M. Dirksen of Pekin, Ill, is another of the believers in econ- omy who makes frequent and effec- tive speeches. And yes, the other day there was before Congress an obscure Item of $i20,000 for the preparation of food fishes" and Congressmen Rich and Tabor were both interested. Congressman Frank Y. Hook of 1ronwood. Mich, had the fun of crucifying both gentlemen with an amendment to cut the ap- propriation to $i05,000. Taboa had appeared before the committee considering the appropriation, charging that the Fish and Wild Life Service was q racketeering out- fit. He says this is Q rackoa, ,ring outfit" charged Hook, "because they would not allow an excessive amount for land in his district"
 Hook then went on to show that one item was to provide $i6,000 for building Improvements to fish and wild life station in Lamar, Pa, In Rich's district. In the interests of economy, Hook thought that ought to come out, thereby reducing the appropriation to $lo5 ,000. Democra- tic Floor Leader John w. McCor- mack Of Boston finally persuaded Hook to withdraw his amendment, but he had proved his point, names ly, that even the most rabld of be- levers in economy loses his faith when an appropriation concerns his own district.
 Immediately after that incident, there was another item in the same bill, appropriating $476,476 for an inquiry into the cause of the dee crease of food fishes In the waters of the United States. And who do you suppose wanted that item In. creased to $6ii,476? None other than arch economy booster Dirk. sen.
 T recognize the fact that I have been one Of those stern economy advocates ever since I have been here," said the statesman from Pe- kin. But there come times, of course when . little money Judiciously ex- pended is really In the interest of economy"
 There was laughter and applause, but, P. s.-He got the money. TRY TO
 FIND ONE
 Now all this is mere chicken feed --mere Ash food-in the considera- ton of the billions which Congress passes out. Yet 1t !s the perfect ex. ample Of the fact that there is no more sincerity about economy in Congress than there is in the moon. Most recent chance Congress had to get tight was on the question of farm parity payments. Tine House passed the bill with an appropria- ton of $2l2,O00O00. The Senate raised 1t to 94S0,000,000 and the House concerned. In the Depart. ment Of Interior appropriation bill for l942, the House economists lop. ped of S6,3000o0. yet the bill was still S2i 800 900 above i04i. Of the 20 congrcssinen who appeared be-. fore the committee handling the bill, all but one asked for increased appropriations.