Evening journal., 1890-02-22
THE FIGHT FOR THE FAIR
Members of the House Speak
Their Minds.
WHAT CITY wILLGEr THE PRIzEl

should Bs Heid-champions OF the
Different cities Speak Their Pieces.
WASHINGTON, Feb. p The exposition
question was warmly debated by the MEM
bers Of the house.
There was considerable opposition shown
toward holding a fair at all by number Of
members, among them Mills, OF Texas;
Morse, Of Massachusetts; Peters, Of Kansas.
Mills Is "Agin It."
Mr. Mills said an immense amount Of
business that did not belong 70 congress had
been forced upon the representatives OF the
people. The government had nothing TO do
with Worlds fair. IL was state pro-
position Mr. Mills said that Columbus
had never seen North America; he never
knew there was such continent as North
America. He had left Spain to hunt In
dians; landed at San Salvador and gone
back home again He had come a second,
third and fourth time, and gone back
home without ever knowing Of tho existence
of the country that wanted 70 honor him.
This proposition, be held, was business
proposition. Since 1876 these fairs had been
increasing, and il they kept on increasing.
helped by government appropriations, the
people would finally break down under the
burden Of taxation. These fairs could be
held without any help from the govern
ment II the city OF Chicago or the city
Of New York, Washington or st. Louis
wanted a fair its business men could raise
the necessary money. He thought the bill
would pass, and 70 would be charged up to
that he would have to cast his vote for
some particular site, and that vote would be
cast for St Louis When the question Of
passing the bill came up he would cast his
vote against the proposition like little
man.
Mr. O'Neill Pa) said be had not at this
late day decidedly made up his mind on
site. He opposed the proposition principal
" because there was too little time TO pre-
pare for fair in 1892. 1t was not bust
ness proposition, but arose from patriotic
sentiment Mr.. Blanchard ula.l favored
Washington. He believed, however, that
wherever the fair would be held it would
result in the greatest benefit to the south.
Mr. Gibson lMdl thought Washington the
place where the national progress in wealth
and grandeur could be seen best II there
was not a suitable harbor here, near at
hand-at Baltimore--the nayies OF the
world might ride.
The soldiers want II.
Mr. Mnliken tAiel said that no class OF
! people would more gladly participate In this
| fair than the men who carried the dag. The
soldiers would not thank the man who
pleaded the poverty act here. He had never
known Of a man who wanted 70 do anything
or prevent anything being done who could
not quote Jefferson on either side. Mr.
Houk lTenn.) said that in Washington only
would the fair have national Importance
and significance. The nation should inherit
the buildings which must be constructed for
the fair.
It Would Bridge the Bloody Chasm.
Mr. Wilson ON. Val said that fairs al
ways allayed the sectional feelings engen-
dered by the war. They chastened the
| spirit Of one section and aroused national
| pride in the other II the exposition was TO
be great historic event, 1t must be carried
on by the national government, and the seat
OF the national government was the place
where it should be held. Under the finan-
cial scheme the fair would cost the govern
ment no more If held in Washington than
/ it would anywhere else Mr.. Vandever
/ Cali advocated St Louis claim. If It
was TO be a financial transaction purely,
he said, they should advertise for bids In
the Missouri valley the foreign visitor
would see the real source Of the prosperity
Of New York and Chicago, and would find
| st. Louis the center OF it all. The com
merce Of this great valley exceeded tenfold
| the foreign commerce OF New York, and St.
Louis was at the confluence Of the great
streams Of that commerce He believed the
next exposition would be held in California,
and he favored the claims OF st. Louis as a
recognition Of the west
Carlisle for 81. Louis.
Mr.. Carlisle said that the fair should be
held near the center of the country St.
Louis was nearest the center and Chicago
was next Mr. Carlisle said that he must
disapprove the bills presented by the com
mittee. Congress had no right 70 hold a
fair anywhere but at the national capital.
/ II the state wanted tho fair its citizens
had only 20 incorporate themselves and
hold it. He thought the bills should be
amended When they were changed tc
suit his ideas he would vote for St. Louis
first and then for Chicago. Mr.. Kmsey
| (Mo) said that the greatest thing the
country had to exhibit was the country it.
self, and the fair should be held at a plact
where most OF it could be seen. st. Louis
embraced something OF all that was good
and all that was representative Of the gen
ius Of the people Of this country. The con
venience Of the people Of South and Centra
America should be consulted too.
Western Boomers Speak.
Mr.. Wilson MOI said that it would b,
subyersiye Of the objects In view 10 locat,
the fair upon the narrow strip Of country
where Columbus landed The country wa
the greatest exhibit after all, and therefor,
the fair should be held in ST. Louis Mr.
Forman Qlls.l favored st. Louis, because h,
thought the fair should be an educationa
aid 70 the people of the country. st. Louii
was the only city in the west that had sue
ceeded in holding expositions and had never
failed in an undertaking. Mr. Hatch MO-
said that it was providential that De Sots
had been fifty years behind Columbus Il
he had discovered the Mississippi valley fifty
years sooner, New England and Manhattan
Island would now be Indian reservations foi
sale at 81. .25 per acre.
New York had no site--only an option on
a site. "And, he said, "you all know whai
an option on Wall street is.n
Mr. Mason Becomes FacetIous.
Mr.. Outhwaite said that obeying the reso
lutions passed by his state legislature, be
favored Chicago. New York could have the
naval parade, he said even II the fair wa
held In the west Mr. Mason Qlls.) said that
when he thought of the many things he hac
to say about Chicago and the few minutes
he had to say it in, he felt like the boy whC
sat in the middle of sugar barrel and ex
claimed: ''Oh, for a thousand tongues to do
this thing Justice He would like New