The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-02-26

'hsiNt hiisbOTNs
A telegram was received yestcrd = by
TIE TIMES from Representative Paul
Z. Eomunds, announcing that at the
last momen President Harrison had
lone the graceful act and signed tho
Roanoke public building bill insteal of
letting it become Il law by default.
The reasons for this act md the til Dr.
ough work which brought il about mako
Il very interesting page in Roanok3 IS
history. All credit is due TO Congress
nan Edmunds for mastery handling of
the measure in the House and to Senator
Daniel for looking after Roanoke's in
tcrest in tho Senate. These two gentle
men lost no time or point in making the
PRESIDENT thoroughly aware of Roa-
nokc's growth, history, prospects and
crying needs.
But the fact remains that the Presi-
dent had made declaration OF his oppo-
sltlon 10 the wholesale passage OF public
building bills and had said that he
would sign no moro this session. 1t is
also true that both Senator Daniel and
Representative Edmunds were privately
- ~ fAiiN tlitth Nv II u llc DlIL
was extremely precarious for several
reasons.
The exact condition o. affairs was
brought TO Roanoke and reported to
several prominent mon. 1t Immediately
became evident that the key to the sit
uation was in postmastcr-C;cncral Wanna
makers hands. ii he requested the
President to approve the measure or at
least let 1T become law. his request
would be granted. Action was immc-
diate. Mr.. l.. c. pcchin, OF the Virginia
Development Company, Mr.. a. C.. Dem
niston and Mr.. Clarence NJ. Clark, of
Philadelphia. wrote strong letters to
President kimball, Il. 5. Brock, and
other prominent Philadclphians inter
ostcd in Southwest Virginia and in Roa-
noke, as we'll as close personal friends OF
MIR. Wananakcr. urging Thorn to COM
binc their influence in requesting Mr..
Wanamaker's support of the Roanoke
bill.
Mr.. p. l.. Terry and Mr.. James S.
Simmons did the same. They all, moro
over. wrote directly to the Postmaster
General. stating the urgency OF the case
and soliciting his aid. Nice-prcsidcnt
Eddy also warmly Interested himself in
tho matter and put in the finishing
touches in person.
The combination was effective. Tho
combined influence did tho business.
Postmaster General Wanamakcr OK
amincd thc claims of Roanoke minutely
and was especially gratiiicd TO find that
he could comply with the requests of so
many Influential gcntlcmcna and personal
friends and ut the same time do the
postal service Il benefit.
He saw She President and urged his
approval OF the measure. Mr.. Harrison
yielded so far that he agreed TO let it
become a law by limitation. He finally
did better. lie signed the bill.
Postmaster General Wanamakcr may
have had another and moro personal
reason for desiring the Roanoke bill to
be signcd-but that is another story.
Now that the bill is u law the next
steps arc the selection of q site and tho
erection of the building. There is one
little matter though which will have to
be attended to before the purse strings
OF Uncle Sam will be loosened. The
Government demands not only 4 fec
simple title, but also the right OF emi-
nent domain overits property. Only tho
State can cedc this domain by act of
Legislature and the legislature does not
meet until neXt winter.
There was an opinion in some circles
that such u cession had been made
several years ago, but it is incorrect.
The circumstances which rave rise to
this opinion are as follows: When Hon.
III. :. Trout was Senator from tits dis
trict, he introduced in tho special session
OF 1887 4 bill providing for the ccssion
of eminent domain to the government OF
land for the erection OF n gun foundry.
The act specified no location, and is not
applicable to the present case.