Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1874-02-05
Congress-.

Adf Z D0CA lSE1SSCAICO III qua Ol
invitations given by the governments
of those countries and accepted by
our own Government: Therefore,
Be it enacted, &C., That the Presi-
dent be requested to extend, in the
name of the United States, respect
ful and cordial invitation, to the gov
ernments of other nations to be rep
resented and take part in the inter
national exposition to be held at Phila-
delphia under the auspices ofthe Gov
ernment in the year 1876.
Judge Kelley, of Pennsylvania, had
the floor, but distributed his time among
several members. We quote from the
Congressional Record:
Mr.. Kelley. I yield to the gentle
man from Ohio Mr.. SMITH for Eve
minutes.
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. I think the
gentlemen from Massachusetts Mr..
Butler has stated this question very
frankly. The adoption of this bill
commits the House-and will be so
accepted in the minds of the people of
the couhtry-to an appropriation of
from three to seven million dollars for
the centennial celebration. Like the
gentleman from Massachusetts, be-
lieve that having pledged ourselves by
inviting foreign governments and their
citizens to come and take part in this
centennial celebration, we cannot avoid
all the appropriations necessary to
make it a great success.
Now, sir, it ought to be understood
by the House of Representatives that
the plans for this celebration are all
completed, and that they absolute
ly require an expenditure of about
$8,00O,O00 It is said that $4,000, 900
have been contributed by the State of
Pennsylvania and the city of Phila
delphia.
Mr.. Kelley. Three million five hun
dred thousand dollars.
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. One million
dollars of the amount furnished by the
State of Pennsylvania is, I understand,
for the erection of public building
which is to a permanent fixture in the
park at Philadelphia.
Mr.. Kelley. It is to be used as an
art gallery during the exhibition.
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. One gentle
men. connected with this commission
assured me that the enterprise will re-
quire, before we get through with it,
an expenditure of $1,000 900 from the
general Government
Mr.. Hawley, of Connecticut. No
one has any authority to say that.
Mr.. Kelley. No man ever had such
authority. .:: -.-.. ..-
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. A gentleman
from Ohio, a member of the commits
sion, assured me that it would take
81, 100000.
Mr.. Randall. He ought to be of
Mr.. Kelley. Seven million dollars
it is supposed will cover the whole
cost. Three million five hundred thou
sand dollars have already been con
tributed.
Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. We all know
/ that appropriations Of this kind alway'
exceed the estimates. We are frankly
: told by gentlemen here that the Gov
ernment will have to furnish $4,000,
600; and a vote in favor Of this bill
means that there shall be an expendi
ture of at least that amount, with
} strong probability that it will go
e million or two beyond.
e Mr.. G. F. Hoar. May ask the gen
tlemen a question
Mr.. G. F. Hoar. Does not the com
{ munication which the President of tn
t United States has already made to tn
Y governments of the world, info rmini
: them that we propose to have an inter
l national exhibition, and saying that b
$ hopes delegations of their people vii
e be present, and that the occasion viii
. tend to strengthen friendly feeling
v among the people of the several ma
d tions-does not this action of th
r President pledge the Government jus
= as much as will the passage of thi
;. bill2
: Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. Mr.. Speaker
| 1 acknowledge that what has bee
e done in reference to this matter en-
n barrasses Congress but the actio
: now proposed embarrasses us sti
r more.
v Mr.. G. F. Hoar. Does not the gen
d tleman consider that we are alread
It pledged to this enterprise?
o Mr.. Smith, of Ohio. We are nc
n pledged, and for the reason that in th
d law authorizing the appointment O
d these commissioners Congress resel
n we'd to itself the right to refuse t
d appropriate one dollar of money. BIT
Ie if we pass this bill it means that Cor
II gress is committed to this very larg
% expenditure.
q Now, we have in all sorts of way
t committed ourselves to the declaratio
t. that we are going to cut down the ez
j. penses of the Government; but her
te is proposition that implies an e1
l. penditure of $5,OOO,00O; and lare
a part of the appropriation for this pu
I'd pose will have to- be made during tt
De present session. 1t is fact that neitl
re er the Committee on Ways and Near
al nor the Committee on Appropriation
n have had an opportunity upon tn
ic bill to say whether we have This none
Mt at our command or whether we a
or able to appropriate it.
re AS understand from the informatic
f. we have and the debates which ha,
OF taken place here, we can only avo
a the necessity of increasing the alreaC
ny heavy burdens of taxation by t
he strictest public economy. The Hou
ty has pledged itself to that 1t has l
n solved that it will neither increase ia
ng alton nor borrow money. But he
nd is proposition committing us to
le- great expenditure, not required t
lot the proper transaction of any pub
lit. business. This is not in the directi
ers ofeconomy. If we should finally &C
its clude to make the appropriations III
ct, essary to have a great worlds fair,
ill will then be time enough to issue c
the invitations. The passage of this re-
ely tuition will be regarded everywhere
US. an assumption by the General Gt