The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-27
THE DEAD CHAMBER.
How It Promoted the Commerce
Of Port Townsend.
~ ATTACKS ON SEATTLE.
MI. Rupert, OF Tacoma, Was for Econ
omy, and Had Some Backing
From Jealous Dem ocrats.

Opinions regarding the appropriations for
building the Lake Washington canal and
coast defense vessels are about as evenly
divided as the two great political parties.
The Chamber Of Commerce, when the reso-
luton was introduced by William F. Ru-
pert, protesting against the canal appro-
priations. is corpse. The chamber will,
however, in few days be revived under
entirely new management. The source Of
the present trouble is that the chamber
was allowed to fall under the control of q
few Democrats who have manipulated
that institution in such a manner as to
make political capital. 1t appears to have
been the object to send protests to Wash
ington opposing any extension of appro-
priations in the Senate for the state of
Washington, thereby holding the Repub-
lican Senate responsible for neglecting TO
properly protect Puget sound. The
prominent people of Port Townsend re-
greet the necessity of disorganizing the
Chamber of Commerce. and some OF them
deplore the fact on the ground that it
would injure the city in the eye of the
state at large. The emergency of the
occasion demanded resolute and prompt
action, and the easiest method to
accomplish the desired end was to dis
organize and reincorporate. Rupert and
Plum are generally condemned for spring
ing the resolution on the chamber. Again,
several prominent members of the cham
Der deny that there were to exceed one
dozen persons present. Judge Swan is
positive on this point, and further says
that Secretary Plum is likewise mistaken
when he says that he (Swan) favored the
adoption of the remonstrance against the
canal or coast defense vessel appropria-
tons. The PosT-INTELLIGENcER CORE
spondent interviewed number of citizens
today on the matter with the following
result:
Colonel Henry Landes, president of the
First National bank of Port Townsend,
said:
Although believe that coast Notifications are
as equally essential to Puget sound and the
state of Washington generally as the PROPOSE
ton to open canal between Lake Washington,
body of fresh water. and Puget sound or the
construction Of harbor defense vessels, yet am
empnatically opposed to the action OF the
Chamber OF Commerce protesting to the United
States Senate against government appropriations
for the canal and defense vessels. Ii Seattle IS
benefited by the canal. then the whole OF West
ern Washington is likewise benefited
do not believe IN the selfish or narrow
minded policy of protesting against every move
ment to benefit any part OF Puget sound other
than this immediate vicinity. 1t Is only ques-
ton of very short time before the government
will be compelled to erect Notifications on the
Sound, construct naval defense vessels and Sc
cure en- entrance to Lake Washington. Port
Townsend and Port Angeles are so situated that
the Notifications will be of the same benefit to
the lower Sound that OF the canal is to Seattle
Captain John A. Plum, secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce, said:
At the regular meeting held on April q there
were twenty-seven members present when the
memorial was received asking that the Port
Townsend Chamber of Commerce Indorse the
request for appropriations for harbor defense
vessel He said there was an animated discus
sion and at the final vote the adoption OF the
memorial was lost The minutes of the cham
Der referring to that action are as follows:
"Under the head of new business, the men,
oriai from the Seattle Chamber of Commerce was
taken up.
"Mr W. F. Rupert made speech on the sub
ject, setting forth the many reasons why the
memorial should not be Endorsed by this cham
Der, and then made a motion that the secretary
be instructed to make a courteous reply to the
communication refusing to sign q memoria!
from this chamber to congress on coast defenses
for Puget sound.
.'Mr. N. A. Sawtelle made motion to amend
Mr.. RupSrtS motion Dy referring the commune
cation to the legislative committee.
"The matter was discussed at length by James
G. Swan, c. ]. Andrews, L. D. McArdie, NJ. A.
SawielIe and others and the amendment was
put to a vote and lost.
"The original motion Of Mr.. Rupert was then
put and carried.
Secretary Plum further said that at the regu-
Lar meeting on May 4, thirty-two members be-
ing present, the protest was presented by Rupert
a
Washington canal and harbor defense vessel
The minutes OF the chamber state that after
some debate the protest was ad pied by unani-
nous vote. Secretary Plum stated positively
that Judge Swan favored the adoption OF the
protest 1t opposed the appropriations for
Lake Washington canal and haroor defense ves-
sci, not on account o. any hostility toward Seat
tie, but that the coast Notifications for Puget
sound was of vastly more importance to the
Sound and the entire state
r. E. Moody, attorney for Jefferson
county, said:
The Notifications are OF more Importance to
the protection of the shipping and commerce OF
Puget sound than the building of the Lake
Washington canal. yet l am positively opposed
to protesting against appropriations for the ca
nal If sS,o0o,00o is spent for building this
waterway, the entire state, so far as the money
is being spent would be as much benefited as
Port Townsend would be If the shore fortifca-
tons were built down here The chamber did
wrong in opposing the appropriations, and en-
of the opinion that it was done for political eff
fect
F. c. Stevens, editor Of the Graphic, q
Democratic organ, said:
/ can't see where fresh water canal from
Lake Washington viii be of any benefit to the
state at large. l believe that il the present ap-
preparation is spent on the Lake Washington
canal that there viii be no further appropria-
tions for this state during the next four years.
know by practical experiments that fresh water
will not answer the purposes of dry dock.
Del Cary Smith, attorney at law. city
clerk, and prominent factor in Demo-
cratic councils. said:
lam unequivocally opposed to the Lake Wash
ington canal scheme for the reason thai it is
purely Seattle project which will not materi-
ally benefit Puget sound commerce at large.
The Northern Pacific's Japan Steamer
VICTORIA, May 26.-[Special. IT H.
Pritchard, Of Tacoma, has completed
arrangements for an agency here of the
new line Of passenger and freight steamers
TO be run on the Pacific by the Northern
Pacific railway in opposition to the Cana
dian Pacific railways Expresses. The
new line, OF which the Phran Chan is the
first, will make Victoria the first port OF
call and the last of departure. The first
date of sailing will be June 7.
Washington State Historical Society.
TACOMA, May 20-[Special. IA paper
will be read by the Hon. A. A. Denny, of
Seattle. at the regular monthly meeting of
the State HiSrOrsca, Snoia.v ha