The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-17
MIR. SQUIRE'S RECORD.
A Washington Senator'S Labors
in Behalf Of the State.
The Nicaragua and Lake Washlagton
Canals, Defsnsos, Columbla Improve.
mont and Lands Survey.

Cooo1os Ooso0ooos C0lu0Olo Improve
msns aaA Lsads survey.
WAsHIxeroH CrrY, April 16-lspecial.l
As it must b always matter Of para
mount interest to the citizens Of state to
know what has been done for them In
congress BY their representatives the fol-
lowing items Of the services Of the Hon.
Watson C.. Squire during the second ses-
sion Of the Fifty-second congress. which
terminated on tho 4,h Of March last. In
which he labored 90 assiduously for the
good Of the state and the people who hon
ored him with . seat in the senate Of the
United States, have been gathered and are
presented.
Senator Squire Is member Of the sen.
ate committee on immigration, subject
which is not only Of national importance
but Of vital interest to the young and
growing state of Washington. the future Of
which must depend 20 largely on the
quality a. we'll a. the number of its immi-
grants. During the session the senator
has attended meetings Of the committee
and taken an active interest in the ques-
tons submitted to it. Soon after his ar
rival in this city. early in December, he
was appointed . member of the sub-com-
mittee to visit Florida and Cubs. He at
tended every meeting of this committee.
which procured evidence from every avail
able soprce not only on the question Of
immigration. but also with respect to epi-
demic diseases and quarantine regula-
tions, . matter just now Of vital interest
to the people Of this country.
4 H.
70 this city the Nicaragua canal question
came up for discussion in the senate. The
senator fully recognises the vast import
ence Of this measure and the benefits the
construction Of the canal will confer upon
the whole United States ana the Pacific
coast in particular. He presented several
petitions in its favor and took advantage
of every opportunity to speak on the sub
ject. Finally, when tho bill came up In
February for consideration. he delivered
an able speech on the subject. in which he
drew particular attention to the vast re-
sources of the state Of Warrington and
the great interest it had in the construc-
ton Of the canal. For the purpose Of dis
seminating this information the senator,
at his own expense, printed this speech in
pamphlet form, and the demand for it
from commercial bodies has been 90 large
that the quantity issued reached 1900
copies.
Another canal question Of great import
ance to the state Of Washington and the
Pacific coast Is the proposed canal to unite
the fresh water Of Lake Washington with
the salt water harbor of Puget sound. To
this subject Senator Squire has given un.
renting attention, and has pressed the
question before the committees of both the
senate and the house of representatives.
The favorable and comprehensive report
made by the house committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce is due entirely
to the arguments aud representations of
Senator Squire made to that body. OF this
document, also. the senator has had
printed and distributed at his own expense
1900 copies. The result of tho senator's
labor in this direction 10 that feeling has
been created. both in the senate and house,
favorable to an early prosecution of this
work by the national government.
The next great question which engaged
the attention of Senator Squire was the
quarantine bill, which was framed for the
purpose Of creating national quarantine
system and increasing and perfecting tho
provision for protecting the country
against the introduction of epidemic dis
eases from foreign countries. As this bill
was first framed, It was evident to the
senator that there were defects that
should be remedied. He. therefore. took
IN active part In the debate, and intro
duccd amendments which not only ma.
teriaily strengthened the measure, but the
supervising surgeon general of the marine
hospital service has testified to the fac.
that the satisfactory efficiency of the law
as finally passed Is largely due to tho
amendments proposed by Senator Squire
which were incorporated in the bill.
As chairman of the com mittee on coast
defenses. Senator Squire has always taken
great interest in our national armament
and the proper defense of our shores. a sub
iect with which he Is thoroughly convert
SAINT from his military experience and
former connection with q large manu-.
factory of arms. During the session he
introduced two bills on the subject, one to
provide for the manufacture of cannon
under the new process invented by DR..
Gatiing, and the other to build a vessel
called the Destroyer, on the plan offered
by Gen. Berdan. He also particip ated in
the debate on the fertilization bill, and on
February made . speech on the subject
OF increasing appropriations tor that pcr.
pose.
BY means OF an amendment to tho an
preparation bill, which was adopted bv
the committee and has become law. Sen.
ator Squire succeeded in obtaining an an
preparation OF $4,000 for the purpose of
erecting an additional building in the pen.
itentiary grounds at Waila Walla for the
accommodation of United States prison.
ers, an improvement which was urgently
needed. The marine hospital building at
Fort Townsend had become so diiapidated
and utterly unit for the reception of in
vsiid seanen that an urgent request for
relief was sent To Washington City by the
Chamber OF Commerce and medical Off
GERS In charge of the hospital. By ener-
Setic and persistent work and the presen.
talon OF the necessities In the case Seua-
tor Squire succeeded III carving An
amendment appropriating $50. 900 tor the
erection OF new building, the amount
named by the supervising surgeon general
OF The marine hospital service. This has
become law and the new hospital will be
commenced as soon Is the architects
plans can be prepared.
he work OF improving the navigation of
Columbia river by means OF canal and
lock III the Cascades is OF Importance To
on extensive region in the eastern and
southern parts OF the state OF Washington
lhe amount appropriated for this purnose
In the DILL prepared and passed bv the
Rouse OF representatives being considered
~ AM