The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-08-21
AN EXTRA SESSION.

day, was composed of upwards Of one
hundred regularly accredited dele.
gates representing city and village
councils, boards of trades, chambers
of commerce and agricultural socie-
ties, and while less than half the
counties were represented, every sec
tion of the state showed up in the roll
call.
For nearly thirty days the Board of
Managers of the Worlds Fair for Min
nesota have carefully canvassed every
conceivable project which presented
itself whereby plan could be devised
for raising additional funds above the
legislative appropriation with which
to make display at Chicago in 1913
commensurate with the demands of
the state and in keeping with the dig
nifty of it's position as great and
prosperous commonwealth. 1t is
hardly necessary to say, with the
knowledge people have of the situa-
ton, that they failed in arriving at
any conclusions which they felt guar
anteed in putting into operation. For
the purpose of getting at the senti-
ment of the public on the question a
meeting was called, as noted above.
After mature deliberation and
thoughtful consideration. it was de-
cided, by large majority of the dele
gates present and participating, that
the only feasible, equitable and salts
factory way in which the sum could
be raised was bylegislative enactment,
and to this end it was de-
cided to ask for special ses-
sion of the legislature based
upon certain conditions. The provi-
sions are these: The Board of Man
ayers are requested to issue circular
letter to the members of the legisla-
ture, asking them to petition the Gov
ernor to call the legislature together
at some date in the near future for
the purpose of further appropria-
to the Worlds Fair fund, and for no
other business. If two-thirds of the
members shall sign such call then
and in that event, the Governor is re-
spectfully asked to convene the body.
The convention first declared that in
its opinion $4,000 was entirely made
quate for the purposes of the state in
making a worthy exhibition of our in
tesests, and in this, the sentiment of
the whole state may be said to be
practically unit. 1t next declared
itself as believing that 100000 addi-
tional is needed, and in this PROPOSE
ton, also, great preponderanee of
the people of Minnesota are in full
accord.
Thus it is acknowledged that $780,
600 is not enough; that 100000 addi-
tional is required. The only remain
ing problem to solve, and the perpleX-
sng one is, how shall the amount be
raised. Confessedly the only re.
ally business-like way is to get
it from the state inasmuch as all the
interests of the state are to be bene-
flied. This being true the only way
of getting it from the state is through
the legislature. Accepting this as a
fact, it is business reason and good
sense to say that special session OF
the legislature called for the purpose
and for no other business is the cor
rect method. An opinion largely pre-
vailed and does now that the money
should be secured through subscrip-
tions of some sort and trust to the
considerate Judgment of future
legislature to reimburse the subscrib-
ers, believing that eventually it should
come from the channel now proposed.
If the legislature is to raise the
amount by appropriation, why not do
it now and save the large expense and
pc ssible-yes probable-failure of Sc
curing the asum by private subscrip-
ton? A half dozen or more members
of the legislature in ST. Paul yester-
| Qdy dSICSu CudU UllC WI VI du cAUld
session could be finished up in less
than two days, and if every man took
his mileage and per diem, the eX-
pense attendant upon the session
would be less than $500 all told.
But large percentage-more than
half-of the members will not accept
either. So it is perfectly safe to say
that the cost of an extra session will
not aggregate to exceed s1,750. No
other means could be possibly EN-
ployed which would raise the amount
for three times this sum, even though
there was a reasonable assurance that
the money would be refunded at a
later period. The expressed fear that
other matters will be taken up if the
legislature is called together is abso-
lutely absurd. Whatever may be
thought of this body of men, no one
will seriously contend that they are
fools. They will meet, if at all, trans.
act the business for which they were
brought together and adjourn. There
is no question about that.
The action taken at the meeting
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