The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-02-24
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THE INTELLIGENCER,
WHEELING, FEBRUARY "a, 1909.
The Postonice and n Critic.

Somebody. whose identity Is UNI
known, has been interviewed by the
Register concerning the bill before Con-
, gress for the erection of u new govern
ment building In Wheeling. Reading 1t
between the lines, there is a manifest
intention OF raising discussion over
the location OF the building should the
appropriation be secured, In advance OF
the knowledge that the bill will be pass
ed at all by the present session.. There
is an uncalled for reflection upon Con-
gressn,an Dovener In the intimation
that he Is personally interested In some
way In locating the building on GER
tain corner. and the gentleman inter-
viewed prefers the present site. and ad-
vocates that "halt be called upon Cap
tain, Dovener."
surdity for several reasons. First. Its
effect Is to divide the community on
fllmsy preteXt, and possibly prevent the
passage Of the measure, by assaulting
at the very beginning the representa-
tive in, Congress who has started the
movement for much needed improve
ment, by impugning his motives, this
weakening his efforts. Second. 1t Is not
the province of Captain Dovener to
fix the location. nor Is the matter Of
fixing the location in the bill. The con-
gressional representative having the
matter in charge can only secure the
appropriation of the money for the
erection of government building in
Wheeling. and he deserves to have the
united support OF the citizens to man
in the effort.
The bill cannot possibly provide for
particular site. That Is not the purpose
of the measure. which merely appro-
pirates the money. and so far as Con-
gress IS concerned the matter ends
there. There is no need Of ."public
protest" against n thing which has no
existence. II any citizen, Congressman
:Dovener, or any other man. has his
views concerning proper site. and de-
sircs TO make suggestion, that is all
right. He is entitled to his opinion.
But the first thing for Wheeling to do is
TO get the appropriation for a building
through Congress.
The building will be government prop
erty, and so Will the ground upon which
Il is erected, and the structure will be
built by the government under govern
ment supervision. 1t is possible. even
probable. that the government owning
the very valuable ground upon which
stands the present building, would not
care to 20 to the extra expense OF buy
ing another site. but II the present site
Is satisfactory to the public and to the
government authorities-whose policy
Is to locate federal buildings at the
most convenient point for the public
and the public business, It may be re-
tanned. This Is n question that must be
decided by the proper authorities.
The bill in question may not pass the
present session. as Congress will adj
journ within very few days. At any
rate, the action Congressman Dovener
has taken looks to positive action next
winter. many of the present members
holding over In the next Congress, while
We are assured OF the cordial support
of both West Virginia members of the
senate. Why then should any citizen
set up n man of straw over the matter
of location which Is not involved In any
way In the question OF securing the ap-
preparation? Why should any citizen
desiring the Improvement want to call
halt" on the representative to whom
We must look for securing the apprO-
priation. and prejudice his efforts In adj
vance particularly when neither he nor
Congress can fix the site OF the pro-
posed building. whether 1t shall be au-
thorizcd mt this session or the next?
When any city is after an appropria-
tIon for a needed improvement which Is
In the power of the government TO give.
the main point Is united action, and not
dlsparagement by attempting to evolve
unsupported theories that there is
something back of 1t other thnn 4 desire
TO benefit the city. Newspaper articles
aimed at n representative who. on his
own motion, desires to do good ethlng
for his home city. can accomplish MOTH
ing save. perhaps. to handicap his
efforts.