The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-06
FOR COAST DEFENSES.
Chamber of Commerce Passes
Resolutions.
a GUN FOUNDRY POSSIBLE,
Chamber Urges the Government to Buy
a Naval site at Port Orchard
Financial situation.


appointed to draft resolutions looking to-
ward the location Of a gun factory on the
Sound The chamber also urged the gov
eminent to purchase the land selected for
q navy yard at Port Orchard. Also the
legislative committee made its report on
bills prepared.
COAST pErEwsEs.
The following memorial was unanimously
adopted:
To the Senate and House OF representatives IN
congress assembled
The Chamber OF Commerce Of the city Of Seat
tie, state of Washington, views WITH disiaFor
and alarm the defenceless condition OF our eoun-
try. Though In population IL exceeds any other
civilized nation the world has ever seen, ana IN
wealth, commerce aud financial strength II IS
even further in the lead and though The people
without regard TO locality or political party,
have long desired and demanded a policy IN
this matter consistent with our position ana
the United states is now and has been
for quarter OF a century almost aDso
lutely without protection against foreign Toes.
The nation has been repeatedly Inundated IN
its international affairs, simply because II dld
not possess the ready means in the shape OF
modern guns Notifications ana war ships. 70
command at once that respect TO which 1t was
entitled. This chamber does not believe IN an
aggressive, ovefocaring or bellicose national
spirit but il does believe In national propffety
aud dignity, backed by sufficient force that no
power or powers would dare 10 Insult or assail
With its immense coast exposure and With its
lack of fortihcations, with its new navy yet III
its incipiency and with only the most limited
means Tor the making of great guns, the putting
OF the United states in condition for war;
thereby insuring peace, is vast undertaking,
requiring many years time and the expenditure
OF hundreds of millions of money. These works
cannot be begun day too soon or pushed too
rapidly. This chamber urges the expenditure OF
at least S5o,00,o00 per annum upon gun foun
dries, arsenals, Notifications, navy YARDS and
ships, and it trusts that the present short session
oi Your honorable body viii not be allowed TO
expire without the making OF appropriations for
the purpose specified In accordance with this
petition.
Our national honor and integrity, the love OF
country, the right OF the people for the protection
of their property, the general desire Tor the
blessings OF continued peace, all appeal to You
for speedy and decisive action. And for this
your memorialisfs viii ever pray.
THE GUN FOUNDRY.
In touching on this subject Mr. f. O.
Graves said that there was possibility of
a gun foundry being established on Puget
sound, and probably at or near Seattle. The
ordnance commission which recently WIS.,
tied the Coast was favorably inclined to-
ward Seattle, but the terms of the law I'M
der which they acted made it necessary for
them TO choose the government arsenal
at Benicia. But no iron was near Benicia,
and the material for the ordnance had to
be taken there from some distance and
then the finished material carried long
distance to its ultimate destination. Most
OF the ordnance needed" continued Mr..
Graves. would be used on the Sound, and
there is good ground for believing that the
war department would be favorably dis
posed toward a foundry at Seattle. 1t is
known that the members of the commits
sion were not in favor of Benicia, but the
terms OF the law were such that they really
had no option. Were change made in
the Law giving it greater scope, there is
little doubt that the foundry would come
10 the Sound, for here we have the iron
and other material at hand
In accordance with these suggestions of
Mr.. Graves, a committee was appointed,
consisting of Mr.. Graves, Major James X.
Hayden and Mr.. Charles III. kittinger, to
draw up resolutions urging the Washing
ton delegation TO work for a proper change
in the law, by which it will be possible to
locate the gun works on the Sound.
MONEY ASKED FOR PORT ORCHARD.
Mr. Charles ii. Kittinger moved, Mr..
Thomas w. Prosch seconded and the
chamber unanimously adopted a resolu-
ton that the president and secretary of
the chamber be authorized and instructed
TO address communication TO our repre-
sentatives at Washington City, urging
them to use their immediate endeavors to
secure an appropriation sufficient to pur-
chase the property recommended by the
commission appointed by the president of
the United States for government dry
dock and naval station on the North Pa
CHE coast
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.
Mr.. John Z. Aver, chairman of the spe-
cial committee on legislation, presented
the report of that committee, stating the
work done in preparing laws, which will
be urged by the King county delegation in
the legislature. He went over the changes
proposed in the revenue law, which have
already been outlined in the columns of
this paper, showing the elaborate and
thorough revision, which is desired in the
whole body of the tax law. Mr.. Aver gave
high credit 20 Mr.. Frank Twiehell, the
new county auditor, who did the bulk of
the work. The bill will be in shane to
send 10 Olympia within few days
The committee had also recommended
that the constitution be changed so as TO
allow the state TO issue bonds 10 a sum
amounting TO ? per cent. of the grand list
THIS would enable the state TO erect capi-
toll, penitentiarv this side of the mount
aims, reform schools, etc, without imposing
too heavy taxes.
Mr.. Aver said he was having drawn
mechanics lien law and railroad lien law.
Whether $1,000 could be afforded for
the World fair would depend upon the
action taken in regard TO allowing the state
TO issue bonds.
As 10 railroad commission, the COM
mlttee believed in one whose members
should be appointed by the governor. not
elected, FOR the choice of o political con-
vention would not be as careful as the
choice of a governor who would have time
10 look over the ground and free himself
from petty political clqucs which might
have undue influence in a state conven-
ton.
Mr.. Andrew Knox, of the committee
told why il had been deemed advisable to
levy no taxes on mortgages. One reason
he gave was that tax on MORTGAGES
would have tendency 10 raise interest
and what We wanted here was cheap
money. Mr.. Knox also explained the
provisions of the law intended 10 clear tax
titles.
These verbal reports were received, the
seton OF the committee Endorsed, and the
committee continued.
MOUNT RAINIER.
The president referred to the fact that
the geographical department at Washing
ton City had confirmed the views of the
ChambeF of Commerce IN declaring that
The proper name of Mount Rainier is
Rainier, not Tacoma" The announce
ment was received with applause
An ADVERTISING PROPOSITION.
The following proposition was received
from FraRk Leslis's. through their agent,
c. Daniels, now in this city:
For the sum Of 5000. eight pages of
Illustrations and four of reading 70 an
pear in the regular edition of the paper.
hall one week and half the next In ad.
citiou 20 the regular issue Of $4,000 the
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For $50 Frank LssIis'S viii publish four