The Portland daily press., 1884-05-05
Washington Letter.
The Centennial OF the. Export of Cotton
from the United States-PrOpOsed CeIe-
bFatiOn at New Orleans-Probabiliiy of
the Refunding of the Direct Tax.

The agitation of the proposition for loan of
million dollars by the government for the
cotton exposition at New Orleans brings to the
surface some interesting facts about the exposi.
ton and what it is likely to be. 1t is spoken Of
as cotton centennial exposition and is intend
ed to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary
of the manufacture and export of cotton from
the United States.
Nearly 100000 have been raised by the city
Of New Orleans, the State of louisiana sub
scription to the stock, and by donations. Sub
stantial and commodious buildings have been
erected. The main building is the largest ever
reared in the world except the famous Crystal
Palace Of London. 1t is quarter OF a mile
long and fifth of mile wide. Vast as 1t is
containing an exhibition space of 100000
square feet, yet even now, eight months before
the gates are open, nearly 700 600 of feet have
been applied for. Individual exhibitions alone
have asked for 100000 square feet, which is
nearly zoe, 900 more than was occupied by indi-
vidual exhibitors at the Centennial at Phila-
delphia. Every State in the Union and every
Territory will be present, More than twenty
foreign nations have applied for space. Even
Persia, Turkey, Japan and China are coming
The world in miniature will be there, and all
the indications are that more national and
greater international display will be mad o
at this than at the wonderful exposition of
Philadelphia in 1876. The vast demands made
for space the cordial acceptance of so many
foreign nations of the invitationssent by the
President, and the inabi lily of the city OF New
Orleans and the cotton planters association and
the State of Louisiana to furnish the requisite
means to accommodate the vast proportion
that the exposition is assuming, have induced
the board OF management to apply to Congress
for such aid in the shape of a loan as was ex-
tended to Philadelphia in 1876, but not so
great in amount. Congress loaned to
philadelphia, $1,500,00O The board
of management of the Worlds Industrial and
000
1t is understood that an earnest effort will
be made to pass the bill refunding the direct
tax collected under the act Of Congress of Au-
gust 9TH, 1861. The law as passed at that time
authorized the collection of $20,000,0O0 from
the various States while in point of fact only
about $13, 600, 900 was collected, the remainder
still standing as a Judgment against the vari-
GUS States 1t is urged by the friends of this
measure that either the States which have
not paid ought to be forced to do so, or else
those which did pay ought to be refunded that
sum in order to make things equal among the
States in regard to tn is matter, as the govern
ment is not needing the money now and there
is really necessity of getting this money into
the hands OF the people, and it is suggested
that the easiest way to equaliEe the matter be-
tween the States is to pass this bill, giving
back to each State the sum which was collect
ed therefrom. A pretty thorough canvass of
the House and Senate has been made and
strong feeling is found in behalf Of the bill.
There are some vigorous opponents, no viewer,
among them Warner of Ohio included. His
opposition to the bill is the more surprising,
because it would give to his State over a mil
lion and half in cash. Only two States,
New York and PonnRVlVania WOuld get lar
ger amount Of this increase than Ohio. Ala
bams, against which was assessed $529, 900, on
ly paid $4,000 and fraction, leaving $4,000 yet
due. Georgia, which was assessed 1854 900,
paid but $71 900 and the amount still assessed
against her stands at $4,000. Alabama,
Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina,
Texas, Tennessee and Virginia, owe sums rang
ing from SLY 900 up to $4,000. The amount
that will be paid back to Maine, if the bill
passes, is $420,826.