The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-01-18

ton and maintenance az the Worlds Columbian
exposition OF suitable exhibit OF the tangible
tnis state, and demand that these appropriations
be OF such liberaiity and show such public
spirit that no worthy end practical pro5ecs
nee1 De abandoned or discarded by reason OF q
iack OF proper funds TO meet the expenses
On the one hand the people demand that the
interests OF the taxpayers be consulted ana taas
no useless, extrayaga and ineffective expendl-
lures Be incurred. Whatever appropriations
may be made by the legislature must be dis
bursed ia ways that shall be determined upon
only after mature elaboration. No ehimerieal
schemes or measures which viii conserve the
interests OF individual enterprises, more tlan
the public veal, should have the support Of aid
publicly granted. TO the end that the state
treasury De amply protected the legislature IN
making these APPROPRIATIONS should surround
them with such safeguards III methods and meas
ures OF disbursement as may seem right and
proper.
On theother hand, the people demand that
sufficient latitude be given those 20 whom this
project IS entrusted TO provide for all exigencies
va nay arise which may now De unioTess gb
sdvlsaoillty OF making a fuu, complete and
eredifaDie exhibit is universally admitted and
must be taken for granted. Its wisdom is not
matter OF speculation or experiment, and the
people declare that tnesstate mnst make such
an exhibit or more at all, for en- incomplete and
unfaithful representation would do more harm
than good.
What specific sum viii meet the requirements
OF this vast undertaking, providing for all Deces
Ear! expenses and guarding against TOO LAVISH
ana extFayagant display, must De lett TO the
prudent judgment OF the legislature. Some
states viii appropriate at least 100000 for
their displays, and while sum so large might
be wisely aud judiciously expended in an ex-
exhibit by the state of Washington, due regard
must be had to the ability of the people TO meet
their Obligations to the state treasury. How
ever, il must be borne in mind that this exhibit
Is not TO be display OF the wealth and resources
OF the Washington of today, but of the Washing
ton OF Is9S not OF 1900 people and $500, 600 600
OF taxable property, but OF CO. 100 people and az
least 500 coo OF assessed wealth. What might
be q cTeditable exposition OF the Washington of
1881 would rot be d creditable exposition of
Washington OF 1893 Items OF expense can not be
well calculated at the present time, but il is APP
help but be large, because OF the bulky nature
OF EXHIBITS in lumber, tim Der and minerals Be-
yond this an attractive building should be
erected, and 10 be representative in character il
must be wholly constructed OF products OF the
state, involving q considerable outlay for trans
portation alone, while the preparation and dis
tTIbutlon OF descriptive printed matter viii con-
stitute another very large and necessary item OF
expense.
An exhibit under the auspices OF the state and
provided from the public treasury must be com
calculated that private enterprise will supple
ment the efforts OF the public, but private enter
pIises will be unable TO care for much beyond
WhatWili result in private gain The fundamental
sources oil state wealth must be exhibited under
state patronage, and the benefits resulting from
such display viii be SO evenly and equitably
distributed that the prudent expenditures are
properly 70 be met by general taxation IN such
iorIns as the legislature may deem expedient.