The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-13
THE aARM CONTENTION DOES.


THE HARM CONTENTION DOES.
The report on the result OF the mis-
sion Of ex-Gov. Mc0raw and Comptrol-
Ter Parry to Washington makes In
structive reading. II - obvious that
the war and other departments' most
pronounced impressions Of Puget sound
are that 1t u . remote corner Of the
United States, whose chief products are
the dissensions and .bickerings Of two
ambitious towns. The merits Of this
prosperous and important state, and
the deserts to which 1t ID entitled from
the Federal government. are In large
degree obscured because Of the natural
reluctance all influential officials feel
about involving themselves In the rival
rios Of Seattle and Tacoma. The sttua-
ton II awkward for the government:
It IL harmful to Puget sound and the
state.
The people of Seattle can have no
fault to find with Tacoma for using It's
utmost diligence In advancing Its own
interests. whatever they may be; nor
have they any right to expect-they do
not expect-that It will fail to utilize
every proper and available means to
secure share Of the government BUSH
ness All Seattle asks, or ever has
asked. Is q fair field. and no favors.
It has considerable confidence In Its
ability, then. to take care Of itself. 1t
II proper to call attention Of our neigh
bors In Tacoma to the fact that the
original unaided effort Of this city was
to break the monopoly Of San Fran
cisco In the transport tradic and to
transfer 4 share to Puget sound. 1t Is
true that the special advantages Of
Seattls a. q port Of embarkation were
strongly and particularly urged; but
II II also true that, when the decision
was reached to outfit and load the ves-
sells here. Tacoma was at once given
due recognition. 1t II not intended
to represent that there was not In this
city = general feeling that the city up
the Sound had thus been made . bene-
nciary Of Seattle enterprise: but the
situation was accepted without protest.
and with no public evidences Of dissat-
isfaction until our neighbor began to
make loud complaints Of discrimination.
Capt Robinson, assistant quartermas-
ter. was bitterly attacked by the Taco
ma newspapers because he insisted on
plies where the government would get
the best and most economical service.
In the case Of the PAX Ling. the gov
eminent. in its effort to deal out more
than even-handed justice. named Ia
coma an the port OF departure after an
onlcial Investigation and conclusion that
1t would cost $720 more to load her
there How Is that for discrimination?
Mr.. Parry Is reported by the Post
Intelligencer TO have made the follow
ing statement. among others. to the
Chamber Of Commerce:
zone night We were told that two trans
ports had been ordered TO Seattle TO be
fitted up. The next day Tacoma protest
ed and used such influences at her COM
mand In Washington to such effect that
both transports were sent to Portland"
The Post-Inteliigencer is satisfied that
this is an error and 1t Is informed that
the exact purport OF Mr.. Parry's re-
marks was misunderstood. The trans
ports Rio de Janeiro and Sikh were sent
to the Oregon city because they should
have been sent there. The Thirty fifth
regiment was In part recruited and as
a whole rendexvoused at Vancouver
barracks. Other things being equal.
the barracks. or the ADJACENT city OF
Portland. was the proper place for en-
harkasion. No reasonable criticism can
be made Of the war department for
designating that city.
], Is clear, however, that the antayo-
nisms OF the Puget sound cities have
greatly annoyed the war department.
and that there Is an inclination to
withdraw altogether the transport bus
mess from here, In that event, both
Tacoma and Seattle would be sun rers
The true policy for both places is 70 urge
upon Senator Foster and Congressman
Cushman 90 represent in Washington
the particular claims OF neither city and
TO ask tina; the Guarteryuaster's Depart
mens scquasnt itself with the merits
and facilities OF both. and decide for
sissit where any transport shall be
loaded.
TO thoss persons In Scattie-sf there
re sach-who are worried over the SIT
nat.on. (. win do no harm To point cut
that Seattle Is doing fairly well both
ss 10 ;he trade which Il has GRATED
tor Itself ana as - he government pat
ronage, TIE city Is no. politically help
less II has powerful friends n sreu-