The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1891-08-26
The Worlds Fair Appropriation.

The high tide of midsummer madness,
in respect of this matter, was reached
in the appeal of a contemporary to the
legislature to appropriate 100000 at
this special session for the representa-
ton of the state at the Columbian Ex-
position at Chicago in 1898. The ma
lign influence of the dog star or some
other agency is seen also in the columns
of the state papers both in respect of
the demand for big appropriation and
the comments on the appropriation al
ready made. Efforts that bear the ear
marks of " literary bureau " are made
to belittle the sum the legis ature de-
vo.ed to this object, last fall-to give it
the semblance of penuriousness, of
meanness. The finger of shame is lev.
eled at the act appropriating $4,000 to
this exhibition. 1t is characterized as
"a disgrace to the state '-one that
causes the sons of Vermont every
where "to hang their heads with
ohahiCj GU hD tnOIl Is 10 De
made to induce Vermont to initiate
the example IF the larger and Weather
commonwealths of the Union-those
having a much larger population,
vastly greater taxable wealth, and
wider range of industrial interests that
can be advantageously advertised at the
great fair. The real facts in the case,
as is usual with the uncaculating
" boomer" are disregarded. The rela-
tive merit of Vermont's effort is dis
regarded. 1t will surprise the boomers
to know that, in proportion to her tax
able wealth, Vermont has already ap.
propriated larger sum than a number
of New England and Eastern states.
New jerseys assessed valuation, as ap-
pears by the census reports, is seven
times that OF Verm )nt; her appropria-
ton is $40 200, or Only four times that
of Vermont; Rhode Islands valuation
is nearly four times that of Vermont,
and her appropriation is $4,000, or
only twice that OF this state; Con-
necticuts valuation is about five times
that of Vermont, and she appropriates
$4,000, so that relatively the Green
Mountain state has done as well as the
land of wooden nutmegs and basswt cd
hams; Massachu sets, :" the bright par
ticular star " among the commonwealth
of the Union, has a valuation twenty
times that of Vermont, but her appro-
priation is only fifteen times that of
Vermont, So this state leads the Bay
state the model commonwealth of
the nation-the leader in wealth, pa
triotism, intelligence, progress and civ
ilization. So Vermont may hold up her
head amid these aspersions upon her
enterprise and public spirit. Individ-
uals whose good opinion is worth re-
garding have greater respect for the
man who spends according to his means
than for him VINO, for the sake of ap-
pealances, in spirit of pride spends
beyond his means. So it is with states.
The constilu ion of the state provides,
IN respect of taxation, that "previous
to a law being made to raise tax,
the purpose for which it is to be raised
ought TO appear evident to the legisla-
turc to be Of more service to the COM
muuity than the money would be if not
colecttd," We believe the legislature
should stick to this constitutional pro-
vision in this matter of appropriating
money for the Worlds Fair. 1t ought
to appear evident to the legislature that
"v it is proposed to eXpend at