The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-28
FROM THE PEOPLE.
KEEP powN APPROPRIATIONS.

Seattle, Wash, Dee. 2. 1900.
To the Editor: II is to be feared that
during the approaching session OF the iee-
islature well-organixed raid Is 70 DC
made on the state treasury. Each memper
from the counties in which there rs SIT
uate any OF the state institutions Is pc
ing made to feel that his reputation at
home as a legislator will depend almost
entirely upon his success In obtaining good
big appropriations for the home instftu-
tion." Officials of these institutions ana
oid-time lobbyists are busy coaching the
new members in the business or grat-
ing from the state for local benefit
think II is time to give warning to con-
sentative citizens and the taxpayers TO
the end that with the pull for large APP
preparations the members will feel an
other influence, that calling for deliberate
consideration of the best interests OF the
whole state and for the maintenance OF
its credit through careful handling of It's
finances. While 1t Is important that our
state institutions shall not be crippled by
withholding necessary aid, it is also i'm
portant that we profit by our late un-
pleasant experiences and in the future
keep within our income.
The indirect occasion of the danger is
the fact that our institutions are. scatter
ed through many counties. The delega-
ton from Clarke county viii help the del
egation from King county get large
appropriation for the university II the
delegation from King county will help
the delegation from Clarke county get a
good big appropriation for the school for
defective youth. Walla Walla will Join
these two with her full delegation and a
strenuous demand for large allowance
for the penitentiary. Lewis will want
big slice for the reform school. Pierce will
want whole lot for the asylum at Steil-
accom- and the soldiers home at Orting.
Whatcom, Kittitas and Spokane are all
emphatically pledged to get all they can
for their normal schools, and Whitman
for the agricultural college The Medical
Lake asylum will have it's champions.
These grabbers viii control the legisla-
ture. and the other counties. in order to
be In 1t at all. will each have state road
graft
IN my opinion there is but one effective
and final REMEDY for this difficulty, and
that is to gather the state institutions all
together at some central and convenient
point: but in the meantime. il the state Is
to be preserved. the taxpayers must help
the members of the legislature to stand
off the horde of officials, professors. spe-
cialists, monomaniacs. cranks and Pops
that are clansoring for big appropriations
and working up the combinations that
will secure them. My suggestion Is that
the individual taxpayer and voter that Is
not especially interested IN any of the
schemes for making a draw on the state
treasury impress It upon the member from
his county that extravaganza In appro-
priations will not be approved by his con-
stituents, and that he win not be defeated
for reelection simply because he fails to
obtain for the local state institution all
that its officers demand. If every men,
Der can be made TO see that the demand
for conservative action Is stronger and
represents more votes than the demand
for a brilliant and extravagant course, he
will withstand the pressure for liberal
appropriations and work and vote for ap-
preparations that win be reasonable.
r q WI SON