Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1892-05-26
PUBLIC OFFICE A PRIVATE SNAP

watson y. Squire is one OF the repub-
lican senators from this state. 1t would
be an affront to the term to call him
statesman. He is an animal fond OF eat
ing, with unusually strong digestive APP
poratus, and just sufficient intelligence to
realize the personal benefits that will ac-
crue by living up to the doctrine that "a
public office is a private snap"
If you are not willing to take the HER
AIDS word for this, let it refer you to the
republican Oregonian. In an editorial
headed ga Purely Local job" the Ore
gonian says:
''The difference between Ex-Governor
Moore, Of Walla Walla, and the Wash
ington senators in relation to appropria-
tons for public improvements has more
than private and personal interest. 1t
involves the good OF the whole state OF
Washington, as opposed to the purely
local interest of Seattle. There seems
little room for doubt that both the sena-
tors from Washington are ready to sacrl-
flee river and harbor appropriations for
all parts OF the state, the Pacific coast
harbors as well as the Columbia river, to
Lake Washington ship canal, which is
not in the interest of the navigation and
will benefit nobody outside of the town of
Seattle. 1t is upon this point that Gov
ernor Moore takes issue with them. He
is perfectly right, and he is certain to be
supported by the public opinion of the
whole state, so SOON as the subject shall
be understood properly.
The Lake Washington ship canal has
no proper place in any river and harbor
bill. 1t is not harbor work. Seattle
has no need OF harbor improvements.
Everyone knows that Puget Sound is one
vast harbor, landlocked and deep and
safe. The ship canal would give access
for ships to deep fresh water in the rear
Of Seattle and double the water frontage
of the city, but this is purely local i'm
provement and should be paid for by the
city alone interested. Another and per-
haps the main object Of the ship canal is
to create a fine water power, by making
an outlet through the lake and canal Tor
certain streams now flowing directly into
the sound. This is not a proper object
for which to spend government money.
The water power would be purely local
and largely private benefit. If Seattle
wants it, the city ought to pay for it,
This enterprise goesa step farther than
the st. Anthony Falls improvement some
dozen years ago, which is the biggest pri-
vate job ever saddled upon river and
harbor bill before. The government
spent several millions of dollars to pre-
vent conversion of the falls into rapid,
by the gradual crumbiing Of the ledge
over which they ran, nominally to pre-
serve the navigation OF the Upper Miss
issippi, which is mere creek, but really
to preserve the water power Of the Mimi
eapolis mills, wealthy private interest.
The Seattle job goes farther, because it
proposes to create water power where
none has ever existed, for the benefit of
private interests not yet developed, at ex-
pense Of the general government.
That is, nomiually at expense OF the
general government, but really at ex-
pense of every harbor on the ocean coast
OF the state, and of every fetile valley
east of the mountains that has need of in
creased facilities of access, shelter or nav
igable outlet. Every river and harbor
bill is pro rata appointment and no
state can expect more than its share.
Every hundred thousand dollars swal-
lowed up in the attempt to create an arti-
fiicial water power for Seattle is so much
lost to Gray's Harbor, Olympia, Willapa
and the Upper Columbia, which are legit-
innate harbor and river improvements, in
interest Of large trade basins and agricul-
tural regions. The canal will cost 3,O0O,-
600 dollars. Residents in Eastern Wash
ington and on the west coast can Judge
how soon their interests are likely to re-
ceive any attention in the river and har-
Dor bill, if Seattle must be taken care Of
first.
This explains the difference between
Governor Moore and the senators, Moore
wants the Columbia river improved for
the benefit Of Eastern Washington. The
senators are diverting appropriations
from that work for the local Seattle lob.
He is quite right to challenge their con-