The record-union., 1891-04-25
EXTRAyAGANT PROMISES.

EXTRAVAGANT PROMISES.
The shortest road to disappointment is
to raise expectation. 1t is for this reason
that misrepresentation is harmful to any
country inviting population. Over anx-
iety to attract is sure to err on the side OF
exaggeration as to attractions. 1t is faI
better that people who come to California
shall find that representation has left q
margin of truth than that it shall disclose q
too high is treason against the real merit
Of the performance. The Worlds Fair
Commissioners for California are dis
counting and forestalling the exhibition
which California will make by blovi-
ating spirit which is becoming absolutely
contemplate. At the meeting of the
Worlds Columbian Commission held in
Chicago April Sd, reports We're called for
from the representatives of the various
States as to State appropriations for the
coming Worlds Fair, and Commissioners
Mcdonald responded for California. He
said: 1.-THE representatives of the Worlds
Columbian Commission from California,
and also at large, appeared before the
Legislature of California and before the
Committee on Ways and Means when
the question Of appropriation for the
Worlds Fair was before that body" He
continued: II doubt very much whether
II it had not been for their presence the
appropriation would have been made.''
This will sound very strange to the
people of California. The Worlds Fair
Commissioners did not contribute to the
public sentiment which passed the ap-
preparation. Mr.. Mcdonald was present
before the meeting of the Committee on
Ways and Means, and view is afforded
OF his estimate of the Importance of that
fact by the statement he made soberly
and publicly before the Worlds Column
bian Commission in Chicago. He says
further: when the Legislature in COM
mittee got together, it was the agreement
that the Legislature should appropriate
100000, and then if our people came up
with their products, at the next session
of the Legislature we would ask fol
100000, making altogether half a mill
ion on which we can safely reckon"
Now Mr.. Mcdonald, in common with
all the people of California, knows thai
we cannot safely reckon on S200, 900 more
His intelligence on the character of the
legislation had at the last session in this re.
gard will, however, be better understood
by what follows. He continued: "In addi.
tiOn to this the county government bill
was amended so as TO give the county q
right to make an appropriation. We hat
law preventing such appropriations
but we amended this so that each county
has now the right TO appropriate any
sum which seems best for the representa-
ton of such county" We may safely
challenge Commissioner Mcdonald K
show the existence of any law prevent.
ing any such appropriation, or the exist
ence of any law passed by the last Leg
islature which would enable county tc
appropriate any sum which seems beS
for the representation Of such county.
The enthusiasm of the Commissioner
seemed to warm with the fervor of his
imagination, and spreading his wings tc
their utmost expansion, declared, 81
firmly believe that several counties will
come forward and make an appropriation
OF $4,000 apiece; at least that is the un
derstanding. So that putting it ali TO
gether, we will get from Sl50,000 t,
100000 more from the counties. Afte
that we will so to the great corporation,
and the railroads, and ask them to appro
pirate money enough TO make the granl
total 81 100000"
This is as assanine as it is injurious
Exactly what good it is expected viii bt
accomplished by representations of .thi
character, it is difficult to appreciate
The great corporations and the railroads
viii give nothing. Those who really dc
know something of the state of affair
here know that an appropriation was
asked at the hands OF the Legislature be
cause Of this latter fact, The people who
really conducted the campaign which re
suited in the appropriation consulted the
corporations and the railroads and founC
that they would appropriate nothing TO
the Worlds Fair at Chicago, and findin,
that money could not be obtained in thii
way, appealed to the people of the State
the common people, through their repre-
sentatives in the Legislature and receive,
100000. The bill was not in any tru
sense popular measure with that body
The vote upon its engrossment in tn