Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1899-03-03
BRIEF AUTHORITY
HOW IT is EXERCISED BY a
PREJU DICED EXECUTIVE.

""y"S ''s refSohdi Spite-ihe puerll
Reasons Given for His Action.
To the Honorable the House Of Reprc
scntatives of the State of Washing
ton:
G'ntlemcn-I herewith return with
ont my approval House Bill No. 3l9,
entitled An act for expcditing the
completion of the State capitol build
ing and for the reduction of the cost
thereof 10y changing the original plans
providing for the payment of interest
and making an appropriation therefor
by the American system of govern.
ment set forth in our State constitu-
ton, the executive is made part of
the law-making power. 1t is there
provided, Article 3, Sec. l:
Every act which shall have passed
the Legislature, shall he, before it be-
comes law, presented to the Governor.
If he approves, he shall sign it but il
not, he shall return it, with his objec-
tons, to that house in which it shall
have originated, which house shall enter
the objections at large upon the journal
and proceed to reconsider"
Other provisions follow, which make
clear the evident intent of the trainers
of the fundamental law. Plainly it is
intended that the executive shall care
fully examine the proposed law, pass
ing judgment upon it. If he approves,
he is to sign. If not, he is hidden to
record his disapproval. setting forth
the grounds upon which such disap-
prevail is based. 1t is not the perform
ance OF Il mere perfunctory act that is
thus required ut his hands. He is to
approve or disapprove; to exercise his
judgment in the matter then pending.
This duty have endeavorcd to per-
form. Section OF the bill is as fol-
lows:
"Be it enacted by the Legislature of
the State Of Washington, That the State
Capitol Commission he required, confor-
mab!c with existing statutes as modified
by this act, to proceed with the con-
struction of the State capitol building
according to the plans and specifica-
tons heretofore adopted by the State
capitol commission, by dispensing with
the dome and all the elevators but one
if necessity, and by making such other
notifications as are expedient so as not
to affect the dimensions, arrangements,
usefulness and fireproof character of said
building, but so rs to reduce the expense
of building TO six hundred thousand dol
lars"
Section ) of the bill provides as fol-
lows:
In order to carry out the provisions
of this act the State Capitol Commission
is hereby empowered to enter into such
agreement with the architect heretofore
selected for such changes, alterations
and substitutes as shall reduce cost OF
completing said capitol building within
the limit herein specified. Upon the
submission of said modified plans said
capitol commission shall proceed to adj.
vertise for bids for the construction OF
said building in the manner provided 10y
law"
The Commission is thus directed to
construct the proposed building d" in
the manner proposed law; that is, rs
proved in Section l: according to the
plans and specifications hitherto
adopted by the State Capitol Commits.
sion SO as not to affect the
dimensions, arrangements, usefulness
and fireproof character of said build
ing" and as provided in section 5, by
the employment only of "the archi
tect heretofore selected"
Clearly we have here a self-evident
and plainly expressed intention to be.
gin the construction of the original
capitol building according to the
original plans and specifications, leav.
ing out for the time all ornaments
ton and whatever may temporarily be
dispensed with in the construction oil
the shell or frame work which it il
supposed may be sufficient to temper.
arily house the State officers and af.
ford legislative halls for use at the
next session. Two years from now
housed in an uncompleted and barn.
like structure, devoid OF architectural
pretensions, with State pride aroused
it might not be difficult to secure fur.
ther appropriations and thus the way
be cleared for the final completion Of
the original, most expensive and highly
ornate structure.
That the appropriation Of 5000, 00C
at this time is an attempt to begin the
construction of the original building
to be completed piece-meal, is not de-
MED by its advocates; indeed, this is
expressly stated by some as the plan
and intention to be pursued. But il
the building were originally intended
to cost a million, its completion piece.
meal, with constant additions and
changes, keeping in mind the almost
indefinite possibilities of Ornamental
ton and decoration and the infinite
variety of possible and profitable spec.
ulation incident to the construction
of public buildings in this country
may we'll make us pause. Everybody
knows that in the construction oil
federal buildings the first appropria.
ton of a few hundred thousand is
merely prelude to lavish expendi
ture sure to follow. Mnch depends
upon securing the first appropriation
A building estimated to cost million
in the first place constructed piece.
meal usually reaches million and a
half at least. In the present instance
if million dollar structure be erected
upon the foundation prepared, private
residence property almost under the
windows of the proposed capitol and
lying between it and the bluff over
looking the Sound should be pur.
chased, buildings moved away and the
grounds terraced and improved. And
this is the intention. What the final
cost of all with usual statuary, etc.
etc, might be, / am unable to suggest
But we are told that the State has a
grant of land free, from the general
government, quite sufficient in value
to pay for the building, be it ever SC
costly. The fact is, however, that 6
large share of this grant is of little
worth, much OF it absolutely valueless
and but little of it saleable at its ap
praised or estimated valuation. Tim
Der land in inaccessible localities ha.
little value; within the Olympic re-
serve none ut all. This grant is bur