The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-13
Failure Of the Hull Bill Cut Of
Appropriations.
CAPTAIN ROBINSON EXPLAINS.



army pass al A2gnolsa blu1 and other
army matters In Seattle. returned late
/ Saturday night from Washington. ID g..
| where he spent nearly six weeks tram
| saeting business with the war depart
,nent.
| the East WAS to further the interests of
| the army post. but he ais. gave the Lake
| Washington canal a good word 10 the
| officials OF the army and navy whom he
| met, ard took steps TO secure the recog
| milton OF Seattle as a port OF etnharkation
| and debarkation for government trans
| ports between the United States and the
! Philippines with advantages equal 10
/ those possessed by San Francisco.
/ In this last effort Capt. Robinson met
| with fiattersng success and received as
| saranees that If Seattle can compete with
| the Golden Gate city as shipping port
| jast share OF the governments business
| with the Philippines will be done through
| this city. But as TO the other two pro
| jeets. especially the army post the news
! he brings is not particularly encouraging.
Owing to the failure OF the Hull bill. pro-
| viding for an increase in the regular army
/ and consequent increases In expenditures
| for military purposes, the army post was
! at the last moment left without any reg
| uiar appropriation. while the Lake Wash
| Ington canal in the river and haroor bill.
| shared similar fate. despite the fact that
| the war department gave Capt Robinson
| every assurance that both the army post
| and the canal were improvements fully
| approved by the government.
Garry Out Present Contracts.
| Work on the army post will not be
| stopped. however, only curtailed. The
| contracts already let will be carried out
| and the post will be completed at once
| as a two-conpany post at an additional
49, SnE IN =
| this amount TO be available under the
sundry civil bill for construction purposes.
| But he will be unable TO carry out his
plans for macadamized roadways and
making other similar improvements at
| cost OF $50 e0e. In other words, when Capt.
Robinson went East il was with the ex
pecta;ion OF securing at least slW,VN for
the army post whereas he returns with
knowledge that he VIII have 10 be con-
tent for the present with $4,000
when / arrived in Washington late in
Januai.i" said Capt Robinson yesterday.
II found that could not have arrived at
a more inopportune time. The war de-
partment was In a turmoil over the sud-I
denly developed opposition to the Hull
bill. That measure had the full approval
Of President Mckinley and 4 was sup
posed that 1t would be forced through,
even if {. special session OF congress had
10 be called for the purpose. Pending the
result of the fight upon the bill the off,
Gals of the war department were, as they
frankly told me-, just as much at sea as
WAS regarding the status OF the army
post. All, they said depended on the pas
sage of the hill, and when finally the pres
ident was induced to consent 10 COM
promise b.li passing. the army post suf-
ferod with many other things military.
Before | left, however, the department
assured me that they thought they saw
~ a. M to rIf
plete the post as a two-company post. ac-
cording to the present plans. the money
To come out Of the sundry civil service
Appropriation, As 10 my other plans for
roads and other improvements at Masno-
Tia Biuff costing $50. N9 | was assured
| that such an outlay az tho present was
utterly out OF question. might say that
| felt keeniy on my arrival In Washing
ton that Seattle had been left an orphan
in the matter of representation.
tiGcr Coaid Do Nothing.
Secretary Alger had always spoken of
the Magnolia bluG post fayorahly and had
planned ii Tor n twelve company post
the cost or Which I estimated al from
s55Al essl 10 s<sa.o9o so when III Washington
went direct 10 him, tie was naturally
a great deai worried concerning the sud
don change in sentiment regarding arn1x
reorganization, which IN Washington was
thought 10 be due 60 political opposition
| Nevertheless he assured me OF his warm
friendship for the Magnolia blun post,
although he said he could not promise
anything definite In view az the. Sudden
| charge ia programme. I also saw con-
| gresham LOWS who treated re with
| greatest courtesy and gave me all tic
| ala in his pawer ;,ishon@h ha sealnoJ ~
| thsnk that the army i.ost Wa. Tor the
| tirle being anywas. a eovase.
| II had expscte1 10 ~, an apn- 7printion