Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1895-02-22

1t j. scarcely prohat,c thai the
proposition Of l.C ra!l"r oi Fierce,
IN the House. Tor annu,ment ii the
contract Tor construction 81 the caIi-
t"i foundation and To- repeal tina, por-
fi"n Of existing law Apprnrriating
S'H'OU from the capitol land fund
for that work, will i.nd much favor
with far minded men IN or outside oi
the Legislature. The injustice OF such
a proceeding l. too apparent. :Ur our
lawmakers 1" deliberately reopen a
question settled by All the turmali,v
and solcmnity OF vote by the people.
authorized 10y fundamental law. and
carried 10y such an overwhelming vote
OF the people
The Territorial Legislature, during
the past A years have l"en steadily
locating public buildings All over the
bounds OF the present ate. Every
one OF these inst. buttons. with the ex-
ception OF the State University has
been constructed from funds provided
by tax upon the whole people
Thurston county and Olympia has
always cheeriully voted for appropria-
tons, not only for construction Of the
various costly State buildings, but for
their maintenance ever since they
were built. and to-day Mr. Tavlor's
county boasts OF the possession Of
model Insane Hospital, which, with
Its additions, has cost half as much as
the proposed capitol, and has taken
nearly half the annual revenue OF the
state to maintain it ever since it was
built.
The plea for repeal OF the law au-
thorizing construction Of the capitol
on the ground that times are hard
and no additional expense shall be in
CURED, would have same force did one
cent of the cost came directly or in
directly, out of the people of the State.
But such is not the case. On the
contrary, it will replenish the circulat-
ing medium OF the State by attracting
q million dollars Of capital from the
East and placing it in the channels of
industry and trade. There is no pe-
cuniary liability that can attach to
the State from the issue OF warrants
drawn upon the Immigrant fund.
They depend solely on the proceeds
OF sale OF the lands for redemption.
This assertion is based upon a deci-
sion OF the Supreme Court and is
beyond cavil. What then should
stop the work? Is it because the
State can now get twice as much in
labor and material for given appro-
priation, as during flush times? If
SO, is not that the best argument that
can be used for vigorous prosecution
OF the work now, when labor is wait.
ing 80 patiently and so anxiously for
just such an opportunity? Is there a
single objection that has been urged
against vigorous prosecution of the
work, but that bears upon its face the
lineaments of selfishness and hypoc.
risy2 Is there any other incentive to
the Puyallup suggestion than desire
to advance mercenary objects of land
spectators? Would any question of
the availability and entire desirability
OF the present location ever have
arisen, had not an unfortunate spirit
OF delay on part of the commission
given rise to the hope that the loca-
ton could again be placed upon
wheels?
What may have caused that delay,
it is not our present purpose to in.
quire, but certain it is that one by one
the objections to the same expedition
that had characterized the construc-
ton of all other State buildings, were
removed or found to have no real
existence, and it is safe to assert that
had the commission had the question
to deal with by their present light at
the beginning of their service, two
years ago. the capitol would now be
nearing completion. The State ad-
ministrstion is responsible for the de-
lay, and with a decided majority in
both branches Of the Legislature,
should see to it that any blunders
that may have been committed shall
not result in irretrivable wrong. The
question should be met with the fair.
ness and candor that should charac-
terize the lawmakers of the State,
and we believe it will meet with that
consideration soon as the question
comes up for mature deliberation on
a proposition to reappropriate the
portion of the fund set aside two years
years ago for construction, and which
has lapsed from inactivity of the Com
v,,;oe,av