The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-20
Has Asked Other Minnesota
Members Not to Sup
sort Postoffice.
Finds Little Support in Plan
to Magnify His Own
Services.
ny w. w. Jermane. Colorado RuIldins,
Washinuton p. c. ..,-

Washington, D. c. ~.
Washington, Dec. 20.-Representa-
tive Loren Fletcher of Minneapolis,
now closing his congressional career,
has been trying to secure promises
from various members of the house DEL
not help the new Minneapolis con-
gresham, Frank NJ. Nye, when it comes
his time, to try to get an appropriation
for a new pOstoffice building on the
site that will be selected in February.
1t is the desire of the Honorable Uncle
Loren to show, by contrast, that he
has been big man in congress, and
that his going out will clog the wheels,
SO to speak. 1T, is only fair to say that
no member of the delegation, thus ap-
preached by him, would consent to be
a party to such scheme. ~ ~
At the same time, it must be appar-
ent to everybody who is posted, that
Mr.. Nye is to have the time OF his life
when he gets down to business on an
appropriation for new Minneapolis
postoffice. He will not, in any event,
be able to get such an appropriation
as will satisfy the business interests
be disappointed. 1t is possible that a
discussion of this situation in advance
OF Mr.. Nye's coming to congress may
clear the atmosphere to some degree,
and thusshelp give him square deal
1t is also apparent, to Judge from
what Minneapolis men in Washington
this winter have been saying, that it
office building will be very elaborate
and imposing structure, comparing, in
some respects, with the city and county
building, or with the other large public
and office buildings of the city. 1t
may be as well to, say now as later. on
that this expectation will not be real
ized-no matter who is the fifth dis
be ornate, but it's street frontage will
be limited to two stories, while, for the
sake of utility, the major portion Of
the structure will be but one story,
thus giving abundant. light for work
ers. The experience of Chicago with a
one-story temporary postoffice build
ing on the lake front, pending the con
struction of the new building down.
town, has been such as to revolutionize
the policy of the government with re-
gard to postofflce architecture, and
from this time, on there will be no moro
tall and imposing postoffice structures
Of the style adopted for Cleveland, In
a ai Chicago and other cities;
The Minneapolis building will be used
exclusively for postal purposes, and all
of the other federal business of the city
will be consolidated in the present fed
eral building at First avenue and
Third street. If this is kept in mind, it
will simplify matters amazingly for Mr..
Nye and undoubtedly preserve him from
q good deal of adverse criticism. for it
is very certain that he will not be able
the good people of Minneapolis are hop
ing for.
Another thing which ought to be I'M
derstood: Any money subscribed for
the purpose of bringing block 80 with
in the appropriation Of congress, $780,
900, will not be refunded to the sub
scribers by the government. It is said
been made, more or less definite in
character, by some Of the gentlemen
who, are now engaged in, the task of
raising funds for block 3S, that an ap-
plicatfon later on will be made to con-
gress to refund the subscriptions, and
that this application will, in all prob
. ability, be successful. This is mis-
, take, and a realization of that fact at
this time may also save some heart
new fifth district congressman more
rosy than otherwise it can be. The
government, on half dozen noted oc-
casions, has established policy of not
making these refunds. Pittsburg and
Boston were the last cities to try for
them, and they brought all the ire
mendous political pressure to bear
which is possessed by the republican
organizations of Massachusetts and
Pennsylvania, respectively, but to no
avail. Any money subscribed by Min
neapolis citizens to the proposed site in
block 38 will be a clean gift to the city
and to the government, and will not be
repaid in any part. 70
Mr.. Nye will have to stand the
, brunt Of any disappointments which
the city may experience along these
lines, and that is why the policy of the
"squaret deal" demands that the exact
situation be pointed out in advance of
his taking hold of his. office. -