Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1902-06-13

SENATOR C. w. FAIRBANKS. Z
chairman of the Senate Committee on
Public Buildings.)
The house of representatives has also
passed bill making an aggregate APP
preparation of SIS, 900 for public
buildings throughout the country.
Favors are shown for all of the
states and for many of the congress
sional districts. The senate is pro-
posing amendments which will run
the bill up to about $25, 100000 Thus,
in these two bills, there is to be ap-
propriated almost 100000, 900 from
the treasury. If there were any great
emergency requiring Hberality, the
American people would arise and in
dorse large appropriations with prod
igal enthusiasm. But before the war
with Spain, when 600 were ap-
propriated 'sfor the national Defense"
that was regarded as large appro-
priation for the national emergency.
Now we are SO rich that the con-
gress appropriates almost double
that sum for purposes not altogether
patriotic, and the people do not seem
to realize nor care. 1t is very strange
that such public acts should pass
with so little notice.
This public building bill contains a
provision which has caused consider
able comment, as to the why and
wherefore. 1t proposes to purchase
an entire block of ground on Penn
sy1vania avenue, and erect the reon
a municipal building, at total cost
of 81 100000 So far so good. But it
proposes that one entire street shall
be closed, and the new building pro-
jected onto and across the space, far
out into a government reservation,
which is one of the beauty spots of
this city. Whether or not there is
jobbery back of this, as has been in
timated, the procedure certainly is
a questionable one; because the true
statesman of to-day will consider the
appearance of the national capital in
the years of the future. Its symme-
try should not be marred.
There is another proposition pend
ing for the building of a hall of rec
ords for the government; and that
is undoubtedly worthy endeavor.
In the various executive departments
of the federal government there are
| hundreds of thousands of valu-
| able documents which ought to be
carefully arranged like the books of
library, so that they might easily
be accessible. AS it is, tons of such
documents are stored away as rub
bish, and when wanted it is almost
impossible to find them. Documents
pertaining to claims against the
government should be shelved as are
the cases in the Office of any good
| lawyer. To provide that such order
| may be maintained, it will be neces-
sary for the government to have a
| hall of records, in which the valu-
able documents of all of the depart
ments may be placed. For this pur-
| pose the building of such hall de-
serves, and will receive, favorable
congressional consideration.
But the big public building bill,
which has been called 1.-The omnibus
| BILL" does not deserve universal COM
| mendation; particularly as it fol-
lows the big pork" accumulation of
the $40, 900, 900 river and harbor bill.
| In order to secure the adoption of
| this measure each state is to receive
at least one puDnc Ou1lo1nS- FOR eX-
| ample, it starts out with an appro-
priation of $25O,OOO for public build
| ing at Montgomery, Ala; and then
| taking each state in alphabetical Or
der, it goes right along, and winds
I'D with 100000 for Wheeling, w.
Va.
This bill went from the house to
| the senate, and was there referred to
the committee on public buildings
and grounds, of which Senator Fair
| banks, of Indiana, is chairman.
Whether or not that committee will
actively urge the adoption of the bill
cannot be foreseen nor prognosticated.
| Some of the members of the commit
tee are economists of note; as Sena-
| tors Quarles. of Wisconsin,; McCum-
Der, of North Dakota, and Vest, OF
Missouri. 1t is possible, if not prob
able, that some of the senators may
call halt on the prodigious appro-
| priation, even though some of the
cities in their own states are expect
/ ing their share of the benefaction;
| to give it mild name.
| SMITH d. FRI.