The true northerner., 1877-01-26


Concerning the Centennial stean OF one
million five hundred thousand dollars from the
Government, which was advanced as q loan,
the Chicago Post dscourses as follows
II will not be pleasant reading for the West,
and perhaps not for any portion Of the country,
to learn that the 81, 500 900 which the United
States Government advanced to the Cent ennial
Exposition Company as a loan, as the public
supposed, has been decided by the Circuit
Court for the Eastern District OF Pennsylvania
to have been in the nature OF q contribution by
the nation TO the Exposition. and is not to be
returned 70 the Treasury. but to be divided
among the stockholders. The Court is reported
as stating that the Exposition was a national
affair, and sanctioned by Congress- that the
Centennial Commission acted SIMPLY as agents
OF the Government in disposlng Of the 81, ,500,-
900, and that inferentially, the Government
became less than stockholder (for il gets no
returns for its Investment) in it's magnanimous
assistance OF private enterprise.
1t e weak to say that this decision is surprls-
ing. And while it may be right as judged by
tie testimony presented to the Court il is the
unexpected astounding result OF gigantic
steal. The public was deluded for months prior
to the passage Of the bill in Congress permit
ting the loan by the statements Of Government
officials and national legislators that the Expo
siion was not intended as having the official
support OF the nation. nor as being recognized
as national undertaking. 1t was, by its own
conduct, the enterprise OF corporation, and
shares were sold IN 1T as in any other corpora
ton. 1t managed matters to suit It's officers
without the supervision OF Federal officials, and
nowhere in its history has 1t been evident that
the United States had other than compliment
tary connection with the affair. Yet the Judge,
presumably acting. upon the evidence before
bIm, decides that ;" II plainly appears not only
that the exhibition was national one, set on
foot and sanctioned by Congress- but the Cen
tennal Commission and tho Centennial Board
were made the agents OF the Government in
preparing and conducting it," Furthermore,
the Court declares that "A careful inspection
OF this act makes it evident that Congress did
not intend thereby Ito create tho relation OF
deotor and creditor between the Centennial
Board OF Finance and the United States. The
language used is the ordinary language OF an
approPranon, not OF loan" This reverses
the Judgment OF the people IN the matter.
The United States has. then. been iupeled
OUT OF vast amount of money through the
connivance or stupidity OF men who were OK
pected to- guard the Treasury against the viii
iainies and schemes and plots of all classes of
men, futeen hundred Thousand dollars OF the
people money has been turned into the Golfers
OF the Exposition corporation TO mako good ,ts
losses, or TO enable the return OF their money.
WITH oividends, perhaps. to the stockholders.
Inc Government has been led to give this mon.
ey TO private enterprise, or the public has
DSon uoauuou "i'n iaise promises and fictitious
resolves that the Exposition was not recognized
as governmental affair The money citizens
have contributed TO support the nation In H.
legitimate undertakings, and that during pe.
riod OF the severest business depreeson the
country has ever known, has been cast IN !
lump into the pockets OF an association OF meu
who organized and conducted the Exposition n,
matter OF profit for themselves and for nobo-
dy else.
! Somebody in Congress ~ to blame for this
! extraordinary condition Of things. aud thai