The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-11

need o. proper building has been rep
rescnted 70 congress-. bat the internal
policy Of pairing down absolutely neces-
sary appropriations in order 80 make
shos Of economy for political effect Ia.
always prevailed and the government has
been Jeff 20 make the best shift IL could FOX
the accommodation Of its employees that
wess crowded oct Of the permanent build
isys Of the departments.
TIE records stored in this building were
OF Encssins able value 10 the govern ment.
and congress has been urged time and
again to provide . proper building for
their storage and preservation. Congress
has failed in its duty 50 grossly that
within ten years past its demagogic parsi-
nony has been repeatedly denounced by
Leading statesmen in both houses. Tom
Reed in the house, and the late James s.
Beck, OF Kentucky, were among the con-
spifuous opponents Of this demaxogue
policy which refused TO make appropria-
tons that were adequate to the decent
support Of the government Mr.. Reed and
Mr.. Beck both declared that the condition
Of the department buildings was . dis
gra-e TO the COMMITTEES that refused to ap-
prcpriate money enough to make them
clean, heaithfui, comfortable, safe and
sufficiently capacions.
All this is true, and yet it does not lift
the load Of responsibility from those in
authority for allowing . building to be oc-
cuTsied for government purposes without
seeing that il was at least safe. The gov
eminent officials were not TO blame that
their employees were subjected to disconr
for. and inconvenience. but they were
guilty Of criminal negligence for allowing
a buiIding to be occupied by 500 persons
without finding out. beyond q doubt
whether II was safe against the chance Of
any such awful accident Is that which has
taken place.
The same criminal negligence. born out Of
indifference to tho sanctity of human life.
is common all over our country. It took
years Of agitation to secure legislation
which compelled the great railroads Of the
country to Danish the fatal car stove,
which in event Of q collision made holo-
ca,sst Of the passengers who were impris-
oned in the wreckage; ittook years of agi-
tation to secure the Federal legislation
which compels the adoption Of safety
copplers by the railways. In the old depot
of tho New York & New Haven railroad,
cosner Of Twenty-seventh street and
Fourth avenue. the space between the
platform of the station and the tracks was
so narrow at the entrance of the depot
that men were frequently caught between
tho train and the wall of the depot and
crashed to death. The press demonstrated
in vain. and this kind OF murder went on
for years unchecked until the new depot
was built At Forty-second street.
The large number of children that have
been killed by tho electric railways in
Massachusetts has reused such . storm Of
prblic indignation that the Boston
West End company has equipped
its cars with . fender. which 10 de-
signed to catch up person stand
ing on the tracks and carry him
along until tho car can be stopped.
The notable fact 10 that In the history of
American railways mono OF these pre-
ctutions have ever been voluntarily un-
drrtaken by the corporations until the
ltw ,nterfered for the protection of the
Pablo or until the exemplary readiness Of
jlarics TO grant heavy damages made due
regard for the sanctity of human life the
bsst policy for the corporations.
This indifference to the sanctity Of hui
man life 10 shown in the cheap construc-
ton Of hotels in many cities of the coun-
tty equipped with elevators that make the
upper stories death trap for the inmates
L. case OF fire. 1t is solemn shame that
against cheapness Of construction the
argument that the neglect of decent con-
sideration for the sanctity Of human life
III a crime against human rights seldom
prevails until tho law interfcres or indig-
rant juries assess heavy damages upon the
soulcss corporations.
In Great Britain and on the continent
the law is far more severe. There are no
e.radc crossings Of highways by steam rail.
roads permitted as in this country, and in
German city no man is allowed to even
ls,ssly az he walks. This protection against
wanton carelessness is utterly lacking in
america. The mood of our people seems
- be voiced in the brutal maxim Every
isody for himself and tho devil take the
hindmos,." which is only another way of
saying that right Of might is all that man
can expect to have acknowledged in this