The Portland daily press., 1889-04-17
rna co,,noII and The EXPOSITION.


Thara are two features of the action OF the
| Citv Conncil relative to the exposition build
| inc that will receive the commentator OF all,
irrespective of their opinions as to It's wisdom
and those are Its promptness and decisive
ness. Our city governments had fallen INTO
sucb habit of shilly-shallying and Sinking
when any question arose on when there was
oreatldifferepce of opinion, that the public had
about come to the conclusion that the town
meeting system had got to be permanently
revived for the settlement OF everything but
mere matters of routine. 1t is matter for
congratulation that this fear has proved un-
founded, and that city council has been
found with the courage Of its convictions.
Concerning the merits of the decision we
have this to say. OF course there will be
disappointment. The men who planned the
exhibition had full confidence in its success,
and were fully persuaded that 1t would be OF
great benefit to the city. The request they
made of the city government was free from
any selfish motive. and was inspired purely
by public spirit which did them credit
Yet we do not think they will deny that the
request was so close to the dividing line be-
tween what a municipality may rightly
and legally do and what it may not,
that there was good ground for DIFF
erence of opinion as to whether 1t lay
within the territory somewhat vaguely de-
scribed as municipal purposes, or was extra
neous to it. The petitioners themselves were
agreed that the erection of building for the
ayowed purpose of exhibiting the industries
of Portland would be in excess of the pow
ers Of the municipality, and tax levy for
that purpose be declared illegal by the
courts; but they represented that such
building as was intended was needed for
purposes which were unquestionably mu-
niclpal within the meaning of the statute
and that therefore it might be legally built
by the city. They succeeded in showing
that such building would provide
many accommodations that the city is in
need Of, but they failed to convince the
council that its erection was so necessary at
the present time as to justify the levyng of
the additional tax that would be required.
There were arguments to show that even if
the building were not needed for municipal
purposes it would nevertheless be profit
able investment for the city. but they
were not germane, for the city has no
rightto construct buildings as an investment,
though profitable return be guaranteed be-
yond ali peradventure. The only possible
ground on which the city could legally erect
a building on the market or any other lot
was the ground Of municipal uses, and unless
the city council were satisfied that it was
needed for those uses we do not see how they
could conscientiously vote for its erection
A great many Of our most progressive and
most public spirited citizens will regret that
the boards did not see their way clear to
erect the building asked for, but at the
same time they will not be disposed to harsh
ly criticize their refusal, inasmuch as it was
dictated entirely by desire to honestly dis
charge their duty as they understood it. Nor
will they,in view of the closeness of the ques-
tion involved, and the room for difference of
opinion, unhesitatingly declare the councils
decision an error.