Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-10
Washington's Claims El0quentIy
Presented to the Senate
Committee.
A STRONG ARRAY OF FACTS
Ably Presented by Commissioner Doug
lass, Secretary Anderson, MyrOn NJ.
Parker, Major Powell, of This City,
and Gen. Agnus, of Baltimore.

SSA'sS
dozen Senate employees arrange and rearrange
chairs and tables so as to accommodate the leg
islators, the newspaper men and the crowd.
Ten O'Clock was the hour set for the hearing Of
those who had been designated to present to
Congress the claims of the national capital as
the site for the proposed worlds fair; to debate
| upon the proposition that a national celebra-
tion should be held in the only national city in
the Union.
At 1920 Chairman Hiscock came out Of the
sergeant-at-arm's Office, followed by several
other members of the committee, and after a
glance at the crowd before him raped on the
table and called upon the Washington contin-
gent to proceed to business. BY that time the
room was fairly well filed, st. Louis, Chicago
and New York being represented. Col. c.. III.
Jones was present to see that no undue violence
was done to Missouris interests and Mayor
Cregier watched the Chicago end.
Seated alongside of the chairman were Sena-
tors Sherman, Cameron, Hawley, Colquitt,
Wilson Qowa), Farwell and Daniel.
OPENING REMARKS OF COMMISSIONER DOUGLASS.
Commissioner John W. Douglass was the
first to respond to the chairman's request. He
briefly but clearly stated the program
for the day; named the speakers and
told the committee what they were going to
talk about. After doing this the Commissioner
| the people of the District of Columbia would
do everything in their power--fnancially or
Otherwise-to make the exposition a success,
whether it was held here or elsewhere. Then
| the Commissioner introduced Alexander ID.
Anderson, secretary of the national board Of
promotion.
SECRETARY ANDERSON TALKS BUSINESS.
Mr.. Anderson dived right into business by
saying that he represented on this occasion the
g1.x oxoxa
nors and other officials were members of the
board of promotion. This emphatic statement
was followed up by an aggregation of the in
ternational and national associations which
have indorsed Washington the only city in
which it would be proper to hold celebration
OF Columbus great discovery. The bills which
had been introduced by the board of promo
tion were then discussed-the one by Senator
Faulkner appropriating 600 out of the
treasury, and the other by Senator German,
| authorizing the District OF Columbia to issue
els 000. 600 in bonds. Mr.. Anderson paid espe-
cial attention to Mr.. Faulkner's measure, be-
cause, he said there was no question about the
propriety and advisability of the celebration
being thoroughly national in its character; in
magnitude it was beyond the power or capacity
be made in the plan it should be to broaden
| and not localize it. 1t should be made inter-
| national by inviting Latin-America, Spain and
Italy to participate in its control and manage
ment.
| WASHINGTON THE CITY OF THE WHOLE COUNTRY
The national capital was beyond question the
proper, the only site. Washington was the
city of the nation, of all the states; it was the
city of Chicago, of New York and of St Louis.
In fact it was more their city than that of the
people who reside in it. for they vote on the
government of the District of Columbia some
thing the people of the District were not al
lowed to do for themselves. The city's popu-
lation was made up of natives Of every
| state and territory i'll the Union; it was
more than any other center Of population a
| national city. Between the other competing
cities there were mercantile rivaries and jeal-
ousies. Washington had no manufacturer no
commerce, and all the cities and all nations
| could meet here on common ground, free from
local disturbances or political complications.
HERE.
Mr.. Anderson then went on to show that the
foundation-and very substantial one-for an
| exposition here. Already there was nu-
cleus of $50, 600, 900 around and upon which
could be built the great fair. The Capitol, the
national museum. the Washington monument
the government departments were all here. and
there could be no exposition of the government
| and its workings in any other city. The capital
was in itself an exposition of no mean import
ance. Should the worlds fair be held else
where there would be attempts made to have
great quantities of the museum exhibits re-
moved from this city during the continuance of
the fair. This would be a great wrong, for
lust at that time the people of this country
see the capital and the rarest treasures in the
nations collection would be away. This pro-
ceeding was most undgnitied, to depete the
national museum in order that the government
might indulge. as it had in other expositions,
| in the travelling show business. II the fair
was located in this city there would be no
waste. Whatever buildings were erected
would be needed for government purposes for
! all time. The question was shall the exposi-
ton come to the government or the govern
ment go to the exposition?
TRANSIT FACILITIES.
Briefly Mr.. Anderson touched on the question
Of site and showed that there were several
available in various parts of this city. Steam
and street railroad facilities were discussed and
it was shown that with the expenditure of a
modest sum there could be 24-foot channel
from the mouth OF the Potomac to this city,
while there is now ample harbor capacity be-
tween Washington and Alexandria.
THE CITY's CAPACITY FOR FEEDING AND SHELL
TERING
| q multitude of visitors was then touched upon,
and the statement was made that when there
we're 20 600 Knight Templars here during the
conclave and 81. 900 visitors. there were, never
theies, fully 1000 rooms uncalled for the reg
| lister of the Templar bureau of information. The
hotels would doubtless be needed and they could
| be built just rapidly here they can be in
Chicago, New York or st. Louis. None of those
cities have sufficient hotel facilities now, and
| they would all be compelled to build. This
city would be able to draw on Baltimore for
accommodations; a great advantage if the
crowds should be Unexpectedly numerous. The
supply would equal the demand.
DISTINGUISHED VISITORS EXPECTED.
After referring to the beauty Of the city and
its historic surroundings-Mount Vernon and
various battle ields-Mr. Anderson said that
there would undoubtedly be a great celebra-
tion here in 1892 and that this government
would invite the queen of Spain, the king of
Italy, the presidents Of the Spanish-American
| republics and great many other celebrities
to be present. Nearly all of these will certainly
be present; the people Of Italy will insist
| on their monarch accepting the invitation
| Where will they be received? Will they be en-
tertancd by municipal authorities whose only
| distiIction is in the fact that they govern the
| princil o city of some state; will they be the
| guests OF private individuals or shall they De
received and cared for by the government? To
| ask the question Is to answer it.
| THE BUILDINGS NEEDED HERE Fos PERMANENT
USE.
| The attention Of the committee was directed
to the crowded condition OF the national mu-
scum and in that connection Mr.. Anderson