The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-09

f - government engineer.
ssapd regarded by federal authorities a. an
faccsptable national undertaking, il op-
I. - NJ faction In the ruling political
!. - 80 by the other leading p4Ety in its
! en1fu0. This IL spectacle ft to make
coneyses and the country laugh.
What follows will demonstrate that Ore
ron. for reasons made plain, inspired this
Intestinal war against public improve.
I Sasuts in Washington, and that . few
/ vhiIom Republican politicians. to crafty
n6fsonal revenges, regardless Of the well
&1nrs Of the state, promoted it.
~ Not word of opposition to the Lake
xEsshington ship canal since Gen. George
ID. Mcclellan suggested its construction to
S3he government in 1853, nor during nor
after the passage of one territorial and two
stale legislature memorials to congress on
nhs subject, was heard from any quarter
until it became evident that an appropria-
alion was to be made for the canal in the
river and harbor bill before the present
Scongress. The same bill includes propo-
ssition to appropriate $4,000 for an exper-
mental boat railway project ct The Dailes;
o., on the Columbia river. This prop
osition had persisted in the Fifty-frst con-
fress. and already in the Fifty it
had goneto sleep as an independent meas
ure in the house committee on railways
and canals.
About the time that the United States
ssnate stood committed to both appro-
priations, the Spokane Revico, two-thirds
OF which is owned by the Portland Orc
oeaian, attacked the canal as q 'local
grab" and q scheme utterly undeserving
Of any attention or help from the national
government. The Oregonian did likewise
in urging the candidacy of an opponent
TO Senator Allen. The Tacoma Ledger
took up the hue and cry, and there was
begun between these three papers reci-
procity in the exchange of opinion against
the Lake Washington canal as q public
Improvement, and against Senator Allen
5or endeavoring to secure an appropriation
for it. The invective and vituperation
ut aside, these three eminent authorities
persisted in maintaining the following
charges:
That the proposed appropriation defeated the
Bat railway appropriation.
That the boat railway was An especially virtu-
en- undertaking, in the interest OF an area COM
Jidng 25o.000 square miles, and peopled by
loag suffering and down -trodden farmers.
That other possible appropriations in WASH
tnston were sacrificed for the canal
That In the person Of Senator Allen the inter-
Z 80 of the state OF Washington had not been
represented in the work on the river and harbof
bill
When Mr.. Nelson Bennett is elected to
represent Washington in the United
States senate he will learn that in no gen.
eral appropriations bill are the sums al
lowed proportioned to the several states;
shat appropriations are supposed to be
granted for public works, based on the
relative needs of different localities, as
learned from the credited reports of gov
ernment engineers; and that, as matter
Of fact, the greatest results in the way of
legislation, whether embodied in appropri-
ptons or other bills, are obtained through
the personal influence of representatives
Of the states in the several active commit
ices Of the two houses.
lnasmuch as many ignorant persons are
misled, however, by this concerted talk
about states having fixed amounts in all
bills In general, and in the river and har-
Dor bill in particular, it will be the pur-
pose, first, TO show that such is not the
fact. The converse is true. II proper
6onate sums of money were appropriated
In the river and harbor bill for the several
+ states coming under its provisions, the ap-
{ portionment of that money would be
made under some rule. 1t would be I'M
der the relative schedule of population,
area or commerce. If not, political major
tiles should divide the appropriations to
please themselves. Ii appropriations are
hot made on the merits of the work pro-
posed, rs urged by representatives of the
states, supported by expert testimony, the
division Of the sum total must be made
under one of the foregoing rules, reduced
20 statistical demonstration.
1t may be learned from study of the
appended tables that state population,
1tate area. state commerce, state politics,
zach ana all have nothing whatever TO do
With the matter:
TEEnRgrIc BASES OLE APPoRTIoNMENr