The record-union., 1891-12-04
A SERIOUS BLUNDER.

- OA-ANAOOo A)I%O-NOA@ANs
The California Worlds Fair Commits
sioners have take a most unfortunate
step. By resolution the commission
has declared thatit will construct build
ing, collect and maintain an exhibit
therein and will contribute from the ap-
propriations given by the State the ex-
penses of private exhibitors in the COM
petitive departments of the fair.
In the first instance, the friends of an
adequate exhibit of California products
at the Worlds Fair found the Constitu-
ton of the State to be inimical to appro-
priations of this character. Prior to the
adoption of the new Constitution the
Legislature was constantly making ap-
preparations for the indirect benefit ofthe
State. 1t was giving so many dollars for
each plantation of mulberry trees !;
money to induce people to plant trees
along public highways of the State, and
various other propositions, including aid
to exhibitors of products abroad and
subsidies to pamphlet publications adj
vertising the State. All this was cut off.
The new Constitution meant to declare
plainly that no appropriation should be
made for indirect benefits of this kind, but
that all money appropriated should be
for the maintenance of government only
in this State. This was strengthened by
an exception in favor of orphanages. The
tions. But the friends of the exhibition
at the Worlds Fair declared that such
exhibition, if made separate, would be a
State institution under the ex-
elusive control of the State, and
the Supreme Court consented to this
view. We are not disposed to
think that the Supreme Court believed it
to be clear or conclusive judicial view.
We unhesitatingly affirm that it yielded
to popular pressure and was swayed by
considerations of public policy when it
found the appropriation constitutional.
The argument made on behalf of the
State Worlds Fair Commission was that
the appropriation was to be used under
the direction and control of the State of
California.
The very first act of the commission is
to declare that it will pay the expenses of
private exhibitors who have private
wares to advertise for private gain. This
was mistake of law, but worse mis-
take Of policy. The commission will now
be beset by everybody who has anything
they desire to exhibit. Every citizen in
the State and every section of the State is
entitled to an equitable distribution of
whatever money the commission pro-
poses to expend in this direction. The
commission has called down upon itself
both individual and sectional jealousies.
Every fruit-grower who desires to adver-
tise his orchard, every cannery in the
State, every winemaker, every manu-
facturer, every builder of mining or agri-
cultural machinery, will have an equal
right to exhibit wares at the Worlds
Fair, and get the benefit of this broad
advertisement of his establishment and
his business at the expense of the State.
When inquired Of concerning the limi-
tations the Commissioners propose to
make upon these appropriations their
answer has been reported to be that only
meritorious exhibits will be favored from
the State Treasury. Thus the State Com
mission proposes to set itself up right
now at the threshold of the whole under
taking as a jury of award to determine
the merit of exhibits. There viii be end
less disputes as to merit, and this State
Commission is not competent to the task
of settling these disputes, since it will not
be able to meet the views of one in hun.
dred applicants. 1t follows that the State
Worlds Fair Commission proposes tc
use large proportion of the money
which has been appropriated for its use
for the benefit of a favored few. Every
dollar it eXpends for the benefit of indi.
vidual exhibitors exhibiting elsewhere
than in the separate State exhibit it will
pass under the control of the National
Commission, and we are disposed to be,
ieve that it was a concession to the Ma
tional Commission which produced this
action. From whatever motive it pro.
ceeded, however. it is unthinking to stu.
pidity and cannot be justified either in
law or upon any basis of sound policy.
It is matter of the profoundest regre
that this mistake has been made, but it i:
not too late to retrieve it. The commits
sion should undo what has been done. I
ought TO do what was expected Of it ant
what is plainly implied in every line ant
word. of the bill creating it-that it shall