The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-06-18
A GOVERNMENT BUILDING,
Appropriation for Seattle paases
tnited states senate, With Lit
tie Hope In the House.


A special dispatch u the Post-Tn;elli-
gencer from Washington. z. c.. received
last night. states that bill appropria;ing
G5o.no for q United States government
building at Seattle has passed the senate.
but that this announcement. shoald cause
no Joy, because there il no probability Of
the bill getting through the house. The
dispatch in full is as follows:
Washington. June IA bill authorsz-
ing The appropriation of $50 90 to con-
struct United States government pub
lie building in Seattle passed the senate
today. This should not create feeling
Of JOY, because there is not the slightest
PROBABILITY OF its passing the house this
session. in view of the fact that the ex~
penses of war will be growing heavier at
the next session. The history of the
movement that led to the passage OF this
bill through the senate Is Interesting.
Senator Wilson introduced the BIN dur
Ing an extra session and as II was favored
by Senator Turner also there was not much
doubt that it could pass the senate. The
declared policy Of the house not % pass
any public building bill led Senator Wilson
to hesitate. not wishing 10 embarrass men,
oers or the house by sending tiiem a bill
they could no. pass. Some days ago. how
over. in course Of debate In the house. Rep
resentat!ve Lewis casually remarked that
the state or Washington never had been
given a public building even at its capital.
and senators had been dereiict in not ask
ing for II; Senator Wilson resented this
as unsleeerved criticism. since h.a has once
or twice added provisions 10 appropriation
Bills for public buildings which house com
ferees refused 10 accept. He canvasS>ed
the senate committee having this bill in
charge. and. obtaining the consent of the
ma jority OF members, prepared n favorable
report Senator Turner Ia a member OF
this committee and willingly offered 10
take charge OF and put the Seattle bill
through.
He was authorized by the committee 20
report the bill 10 the senate. This he did
today. and asked unanimous consent far
Its passage. It now goes 10 the house 10
slumber in comnr.t.ee-sieep from which
Representative Lewis fears he will exps-
rience great difficulty in arousing il.
Lewis says he had no intention OF CRIT
icising Senator Wilson. who was rot in the
senate when the state was admitted.
Then, Lewis says. a public building for
the capital should have been secured. Sem
ator Wilson states that the reason Olyn-
pia was not given a public building when
the state was admitted Is that the law pro-
v.des buildings only At those state capt.
tails where United States court is held. So
cerned. II may quiet criticism TO say
that with the exception OF Chicago, no
public building bill has passed the house
for eight years. "SLAUSON."
The movement for government build
ing for Seattle was frs, set afoot about
four years ago. and since that time has
been 10 a greater or less extent In the
public eye. Four years ago Senator
Squire. of Washington. undertook 10 have
ar appropriation bill passed by congress
He failed At intervals since that time
the Seattle Chamber OF Commerce has
discussed the movement ard has had
it under Amusement. That Sena-
tor Squire's attempt was not fol-
lowed UP by further effort to gain for the
city a concession which she stands so we'll
entitled to and could So thoroughly sa's-
fy, is owing 10 the fact that II was no.
deemed WISE in view of the effort which
has been recently put forth In her behalf
In the matter OF army post appropriations
TO press the public building question at
just this time. Prominent citizens give Il
a. their opinion that little time is all
that IL necessary to accomplish the object
They DO not in the least doubt that Seat
ties future holds in store a government
building which shall be a credit not<onIy
70 the government. but TO the city as we'll
The need OF such building Is apparent
to even a casual observer. As one Of the
prominent ports OF the United States she
naturally should have IL: then the fact
that the government maintains twelve or
thirteen departmental offices II the CITY IS
another strong argument in It's favor. The
result OF having them all under enc roof.
In 4 building commensurate with the1r
sxe and Importance, would not only BE- 20
facilitate the work OF all the various de-
partmen;s. but would be desirable In ev-
cry way.
Both Tacoma and Spokane have been
after public buildings for soma time past.
but the chic. imped!ments that have besn
cast in The way Of the movement for Seat
lie havs come from the town ~ Portland
For the present. 1t Is understood. the
movement will rest. 10 be actively. and 4.
Is hoped successfully. taken up at 4 more
suspicious time.
THE CITY Of Seattle" having i1kea
the "kings;ons' run 30 Victoria for two