The Portland daily press., 1889-04-15

10 The Editor Of the Press:
A correspondent signing himself IS" writ
ing to the PRESS, denounces the plan of
putting $4,000 Of the city's money into an
exposition building. He makes a touching
plea for the poor widow, the helpless weman,
and the man past labor who is dependent
! upon limited income. These viii all suffer
in his opinion from the added burden of tax
alton which will result if the city Of Port
land assumes the responsibility of erecting
the building in question.
Now 1t is needless here to pass judgement
as to how much real feeling and sympathy
this writer in the PRESS actually has for
the poor widow, the helpless woman and
the man past labor" He may have used
three phrases with some sense Of their mean
ing and with some real desire to protect the
people designated by them; or he may have
used the words as more buncome to give a
tone Of philanthropy to his argument. But
some language in his communication is
worthy Of more than passing notice. He
protests against spending public money
Ior the sake OF Denefting q few people who,
at the expense OF their fellow citizens, want
to increase their sales and ge gratuiteous
advertising" And further, he adds, ION be-
half OF the small taxpayers and people of
limited means, we protest, against squander-
| fit Of the few who seem to have the control
of the Board of Trade"
The gentleman who writes thus may be
really small taxpayer, or he may be
large one, he may be real friend of people
of limited means, or he may be only
temporarily passing in that guise. Rut
whatever be his real position and motives,
| he is in truth, by his language in the PRESS.
ln1uring the interests of just the class OF
| people whose champion he claims to be. He
Is attacking the motives Of men who are de-
termlned to carry out project which
will be a benefit to every citizen of
Portlond. whether of limited means or
| of large means. OF course there Is some ele-
ment Of self-interest in this plan for estab-
fishing permanent industrial exhibition in
| Portland. But 1t Is self-interest that mani
tests itself in dignifed and honorable way
in way which will help any workingman
| and woman In this city. Your paper has not
the space nor is there ths time In which to
| set forth the benefits which have accrued to
many city by just such an exposition as
has been prepared by the Board of Trade,
| An exposition of this character educates the
| people, stimulates industry, increases wages.
| 1t is far reaching in its good effects. Having
| carefully studied the workings of such un-
| dertakings in other cities, certain of its mem
bers have readily persuaded the Board of
| Trade. as body, to embark in this new ex-
| position enterprise. The question now is
| how best to promote the enterprise.
| The first plan proposed is to ask the city,
| as corporation to erect a suitable exposition
building on the Market lot, which
| is public property and which is at present In
disreputable improbable condition. The
board puts this request not as some alien
corporation striving to plunder Portland's
treasury. 1t put the request as a body Of
tax paying citizens, asking the rest OF the
citizens of Portland to cooperate with the
members in carrying through an enterprise
which Is for the common welfare. If the
reply of the city government be unfavorable
other merns will certainly be found for car
. rying out the enterprise; but the plan for
: securing the cooperation of the city seems
! the one best calculated to ensure a common
/ interest in the exposition and to guarantee
! its success. 1t will provide an exposition
building located on the lot most desirable in
| all the city for just this purpose, both lot
| and building owned by one corporation, the
city Of Portland. and leased to another cor
poTation, the industrial Exposition Society.
! The whole plan is perfectly straight for
ward, legitimate and would undoubtedly
prove in mere rentals from the building itself
TO be paying investment for the city as a
| corporation. g.