The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-07
CHICAGO AND THE FAIR.
THE HUsTLING CITY IN THE HANDS
OF CONGRESS.

The Special Committee of the house
Convinced of the Ability Of the City
to Make Good its Financial Promises.
Talk Of the Postponement for Year
Well Received.
WASHINGTON, March Ga delegation
Of Representative men from Chicago reached
Washington this afternoon, and immedi-
ately afterward held a conference with the
subcommittee of the special worlds fair
committee of the House. Chairman
Gambler, after the conference had ad-
journed, both in words and manner ex-
pressed himself as grea tly pleased with
what had transpired at the conference.
''They have satisfied the subcommittee,
he said, ''thaU they have a bona fide
subscription, every dollar of which
is as good as cash, of S5,25O,00O to begin
with. They have also satisfied us of their
ability to easily raise the $10,000,000 guar
anteed by Chicago. Altogether, we are
very mucn gratitied at the showing made.
The government was not asked for any
thing, and there was no suggestion that it
should do any more than give the name
to the fair, which it should do, as it is an
international exposition, and that it should
provide suitable governmental exhibit,
though even this latter was left entirely
with congress, the Chicago representatives
stating that they had no more interest in
the government being worthily represented
than the rest of the country"
A FULL EXPLANATION
The conference, which was of an informal
character, lasted about two hours, and was
held in one of the parlors of the Riggs
house. The time was chiefly consumed in
-NI.v. % u "a
Lyman j. Gage, president of the First
National Bank of Chicago, explained this
to the members of the subcommittee. He said
that Chicago had a subscription of more
than S5,0O0,O0O, which was collectible under
the laws of the state Of Illinois. He read
this list of subscribers, and said that they
were well-known men of wealth and stand
ing.
Senator Farwell was present, and in re-
sponse to interrogatories of Chair
man Gambler, vouched for the flnan-
cial standing of various persons about
whom the chairman asked. Mr.. Gage then
said that In about ten or twelve days the
fair organization would be Incorporated
and would begin work. There was no
doubt that as soon as this was effected it
would quickly secure subscriptions for
$1,000,00O or more. This would make from
$6,000 600 to 100000, and was all that was
necessary at present. With this amount
in cash there would be no difficulty
in raising, by means of bonds or otherwise,
the 100000 which Chicago had guaran-
teed. AS to government appropriation,
Chicago's representatives said they had
nothing to say. They left that entirely
with the committee and with congress.
They of course desired that the government
should have fine exhibit, but in that the
country had as much interest as Chicago.
THE QUESTION OF PosTPoNEMENT.
The question of postponing the fair until
1898 was mooted, and it was evident that
there was strong sentiment in favor of the
proposition, though in this matter also the
Chicago men placed themselves entirely in
the hands Of congress. While they
were willing to defer to congress as
10 the time for holding the fair,
they wanted it expressly understood that
Chicago did not ask any postponement.
Chicago. it was said, could finish her build
ings and make the fair a success if held in
1892. Chicago would be ready at whatever
date the committee set for opening the fair.
If ton hours day work would not suffice,
then her people would work twenty-four
hours day.
Mr.. Gage, speaking for Chicago, after
the meeting, explained the situation. His
city, he said, could provide her buildings
and do all the necessary work before the
government could erect its buildings and
before the states could take the necessary
measures to be represented at the fair. For
this reason it was left with congress to say
whether or not there should be some great
congressional ceremonies in 1892, and the
fair proper be not opened until the year
following.
The preparation of the Chicago worlds
fair bill will be proceeded with by the
House committee in the morning. Chair
man Gambler said this evening that the tri-
city bill heretofore reported 10 the House
had been very carefully drawn by the COM
mittee, and that, except with regard to de-
tails, he was of the opinion that the new bill
would make little or no change from the old
measure.
With respect to government appropria-
tion, he said that it had been understood in
committee that 81 100000 was the outside
limit which would be recommended for tnis
purpose, and the amount which the COM
mittee would name in the bill to be ex-
pended upon government exhibit would
not exceed this sum.