The Portland daily press., 1890-02-20
SOMETHING ABOUT A vExED QUESTION.
The Cities and Their claims to the
Worlds Fair of 1892.
Effect Of the Settlement Of the Diff
ferences in New York.
No W the Matter VIII Be Brought Be.
fore Congress.
1Snecial To the PreSS.l

Especial to the Press.
WASHINGTON. February 19.-The COM
promise of the quarrel into which the New
York promoters of the Worlds Fair fell.has
undoubtedly done much to make the men,
bersIofCongress feel that the fair bills which
they now have before them mean something
more than talk. While Tammany seemed to
have its hand upon the machinery which
was invoked in New York, and during the
subsequent chickering's, there seemed to be
about Congress the idea that the thing
would hardly be worth the bother. In the
city of Washington, it is true. the quarrel in
New York has been watched with some-
thing like pleasure, because there has been
well-founded feeling that if the metropolis
of America was not to have the fair the only
other place was the magnificent and famous
capital city of the United States. New
York was eliminated from the problem en-
tirely so long as the muddle continued at
Albany, and Washington feigned to see its
way clear in the remaining fell. But Chi
cago is altogether too active aud enthusias-
tic town to be counted out in that way. and
with New York out of the field was certain
ly as formidable rival as before. But New
York is in the field, and in to stay this time,
unless Tammany shall manifest some new
phase as disturber, which seems unlikely.
But even with New York rid of the quar-
rel the coast is by no means clear for the Sc
lection of that city. The argument that the
metropolis of the western hemispere is the
only suitable place for Worlds Fair is as
good now as it ever has been. But Chicago
is presenting another argument that has a
great deal of force. The Chicago people say
that the fair ought after all to be a great dis
play of the resources, progress and achieve
ments Of the people of the United States;
and that it should be where the most of this
country can visit easiest and cheapest. This
idea that the domestic idea should be prom-
nent is having an effect, especially when
backed by the intense and contagious energy
which Chicago is putting into the field.
Next Monday will decide the question of
location according to present arrangement
The bills before the House as the subject of
debate this week have been constructed ac-
one part, and on the other part according to
the needs of either of the three other rival
Cities Washington not feeling able to raise
a guarantee fluid. as have the wealthier
cities. has conceived of scheme to get Con
gress to allow the use of the credit of the
District of Columbia for the issue of Dis
trict of Columbia bonds to the amount of
$15, ,000,0 900. The bill for Washington differs
from the other bill in this respect.
The issue of bonds by the District of Co.
teresting the United States in the financial
side of the great show, since Congress man.
ages the affairs of the District and might
very probably be called on to bear whatever
excessive burdens the District might assume.
The other bill. meant to apply to fair held
in either New York, or Chicago. or
st. Louis, provides for an exhibition to be
held strictly apart from the government so
far as its financial features would be con-
cerned. The capital stock is fixed at $40.
$40 each. Not less than $50O0,0O0 must be
subscribed, and not less than 10 per cent. of
this must be paid in before the corporation
holding Of the fair. The guarantee funds
raised in New York, st. Louis and Chicago,
of course are for the purpose of securing the
ready organization of the corporation for the
real business of the fair. But while the bill
strictly private, the government is yet to be
the patron and guardian of the enterprise.
The first section of the bill is to enact that
IAN exhibition of arts, industries, manufac-
lures and products of the soil, mine and sea
shall be held in the year 1892" And the
second section provides for commission to
consist of two commissioners from each
state and one from the district of Col
umbia and one from each territory,
to be appointed by the President within
thirty days of the passage of the act by Con-
gress. These commissioners are then to be
convened in Washington by the Secretary of
State, and there are to begin the work of
preparing. for the fair The time for OPEN
ing the fair will be announced by procla-
nation of the President, who shall also an
nounce the same fact to other nations. 1t is
a national undertaking in every respect but
the financial side of it. The nineteenth sec
ton of the bill expressly stipulates that the
United States shall not. in any way, nor un-
anything involving a question of finances,
whether wages OF employees or liabilities re-
lating to the stock or bonds of the fair, for
the bill provides that the corporation may
issue mortgage bonds upon the property. or
the present or prospective income, at their
The clause relating to the liability of the
United does not in any way interfere with
an appropriation for the display to be made
by the government. The bill provides for
ment, and appropriates for the transfer,
care, etc., of such exhibits the sum of 81, ,5OO,-
600. In the Washington bill there is no such
appropriation, since the exhibit would be al
ready on tn6 ground. Inc eXnlDlt would Do
from the executive departments, the Smith
sonian Institution and the National
Museum, and would include "such articles
and materials as will illustrate the function
and administrative faculty of the govern
ment in time of peace and its re sources as
war power, tending to demonstrate the ma
ture of our institutions and their adaptation
to the wants of the people," To show these
things Uncle Sam comes in like any
private exhibitor. paying his money out only
to get his show in order. 1t will be great
show, however, that our uucle will be able
to give in this department, whether he has to
pack his boxes for New York, Chicago or St.
Louis. Not many here, however, seem to
think that any great preparation for mark
ing for st. Louis need be made. About Chi
cago there Is some doubt, because Chicago
has been raising q great amount of dust,
while New York has not raised dust enough,
excepting of course in the family circle.
The Washington bill differs from the CON-
bination bill lin which the name of the victo-
rious city is to be inserted) in several other
particulars. A board of control composed of
IL members to be appointed by the President
is put above the commission from the states
and territories, and the latter is made more
particularly body to look after the exhibit
tions of their several states.