Roll Out the Barrel

The pork barrel rumbled merrily about the Senate chamber, flattening out economy forces before it.

When the showdown came on three big money bills, U.S. taxpayers were saved not one nickel. First, the Senate walloped through intact a $2.4 billion Labor and Federal Security appropriation which it had previously voted to cut 5%. Then the sacred $1.4 billion Agriculture bill, which is stuffed with goodies for the farmer (e.g., crop subsidies), was shouted through by unanimous voice vote. Finally came the porkiest little tidbit of all--the $751 million Army Civil Functions Appropriations bill.

Up popped Illinois' New Dealing Paul H. Douglas, who wanted to cut $300 million out of it. With its gifts of bridges, dams and other projects for the home folks, Douglas recalled that the bill used to be known as the Rivers and Harbors. Illinois' freshman Senator had his own description of it and he spoke the words boldly on the Senate floor: "Pork barrel." "It is now," said Douglas, "being marketed within a comparatively new package, but when the new wrapping is peeled off, I have a very real feeling that however succulent the slices, it is the same old bologna."

Grey-haired Ex-Professor Douglas would demonstrate. Dramatically he whipped out a Sherlock Holmes magnifying glass and mockingly searched over a map of Maine for the Josias River, which was listed in the bill for a $33,000 dredging project. He couldn't find it. He wasn't the only one, said Douglas--neither could the Library of Congress nor the National Geographic Society.

Maine's Republican Owen Brewster leaped loyally to the defense. The Josias River, he announced proudly, flows through the village of Ogunquit. It is five miles long. Perhaps, sneered Brewster, it was overshadowed by the $12 million in rivers and harbors scheduled for Illinois. To this Douglas made an unsenatorial response: well, he was ready to cut his own state's share 40%.

The rich aroma of pork stirred the Texas loyalty of old Tom Connally, too. Would it be all right, pleaded Connally, to add a little amendment for a Fort Worth flood-control project? It would just speed up the already-authorized work, said Tom, and would "take no more expenditures from the Federal Treasury." How was that? asked Ohio's Robert Taft, grinning widely. Connally finally admitted, reddening and looking down at a piece of paper in his hand, that his little old amendment would add $500,000 to the bill. Amid the laughter, old Tom Connally gave up.

In the end the bill passed by a voice vote. Beaten again, the economizers in both parties thought up a new desperate expedient. Georgia's Democrat Richard Russell and Oregon's Republican Guy Cordon (backed by Robert Taft) proposed to slap a rider on the final appropriation bill of the session, slashing all money bills by $2 billion. Then Harry Truman would be unable to veto the rider without killing the whole last appropriation. But the rider would take a two-thirds vote, and more courage about economy than the Senate had so far shown.

The Senate also:

P: Passed a bill giving President Truman general authority to reorganize the executive branch along lines recommended by the Hoover Commission.

The House:

P: Voted in favor of a joint House-Senate committee to investigate lobbying, including activities of Government agencies.

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