Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-20
cHIcAGoANs DON'T LIKE n.
What IL Said About the House Action on the
Worlds Fair.


Worlds Fair.
CHICAGO. July 20.-Chicagoans were consid-
erably put out by the action of the House in re-
fusing to concur in the Senate amendment to
the sundry civil bill appropriating 5000. 900
for the worlds fair. When the news reached the
directory CONSERVATION ruled supreme in the
Headquarters
Director Lyman J. Gage was greatly moved
by the refusal Of Congress to make the appro-
priation. He was confident, however. that bet
ter judgment would finally prevail He said:
This action OF Congress is most unfortunate.
The injury that will be done the fair abroad If
the conference committee does not oct promptly
viii be very great. The credit of the country
has been pledged and foreigners look only to
the government. They know nothing of the
exposition company and the refusal Of Con-
gress to make IN appropriation will greatly
dampen their ardor. If the bill is promptly
referred back with a recommendation that 1t be
passed, Of course the effect of Yesterdays de-
Feat will be little.
"a great mistake has been made; that must
be admitted by all. Chicago WIS asked to as
sumo a certain responsibility, and il did so. All
promises made by us have been fulfilled. We
raised SIC, 600, 900, and that insignificant
undertaking. Never before in the history Of
the world did Q people voluntarily assume a
debt of SO great proportions. That amount OF
money could have been raised only among
people broad minded, liberal and generous.
Even in Chicago it required great effort to
raise 10000 900 in cash, and now Congress
says to us that we must provide $1,000 600
more. There's no justice IN II. It is not &C.
cording to the ideas Of American people. This
entire country is interested in the fair, and the
voters will hold Congress responsible for It's
success'
President Baker was not well yesterday. In
answer to a request for an interview he said:
II think Congress has made q great mistake.
The action taken is not final, and / am conf
granted"
Judge Edwin Walker was quite vehement.
Congress" said he, ''has only one other sction
to make its record perfect, and that is to pro-
hibit the holding Of the fair. Candidiy, am
greatly disappointed, but am not disheartened.
fully expect an appropriation. The Senate
will hold the House III session until the fair Ia
cared for The vote of yesterday simply shows
posed to the fair. This thing will drift into
politics yet if is not taken, and if it does it
viii not benefit the democratic party"
Chief Walker Fearn was discouraged. He is
Of the opinion that the effect Of the vote taken
yesterday will be to discourage those who have
been working in behalf Of the fair in Europe.
Many directors refused to talk for publica-
ton, saying that they would wait until final ac-
ton had been taken, content until then to do
nothing but think.
Said Judge Altgeld: at would appear that
Congress has IN a measure overlooked the OBJ
legations assumed by this country to foreign
nations when the worlds fair was decided upon.
Certain promises were tacitly understood to
have been made directly the government recog-
nized the scheme. The time is rapidly APP
preaching when these promises must be made
good.
Chicago has more than made good her prom
ises, and now that this appropriation is needed
the government should give il.
Just what the conference committee will do
in the case no one knows, but their recon-
mendation usually passes both houses without
question. To great extent our plan of action
viii depend upon tine complexion of affairs in
Washington. We are going there to make a
hard fight for the passage Of the bill and hope
to get it through. As have said, there are so
many arguments to be used and SO much to be
said In favor Of it that it would seem that we
should win. At any rate l shall do whatever
Col. Davis suggests and work all know for the
appropriation. We certainly should get some
thing and we want the whole loaf"
Director John G. p. O'Dell said "For the
first time in my life confess to some humilin-
Congress should have treated this great inter-
national exposition in this manner is almost be-
yond belief
". d. Kerfoot said: ''It's simply disgraceful
feel more sollcitous for my party at this time
than for the fair. The exposition can, in an
emergency. Weatnef the gaze, Dut We snail nave
to meet this action at every polling precinct in
the land in November. The situation ls ominous
and made SO by men in our party who ought to
have known better"
President Eames Of the Commercial National
Bank: Il am very sorry to hear that Congress
has failed to grant the appropriation. Chi
cago can and will make q success Of 1t notwith-
standing: still it should have the support of the
government-it il O national and not a local
affair, having had the initial approval Of Con-
gress. 1t seems strange that any reasonable
Congressman could have opposed the appro-
priation."
canvass among the board Of trade members
evoked the almost unanimous opinion that it
was, to say the least, a very poor policy on the
part Of the government to refuse TO foster the
interest Of the exposition. Some are Of the
opinion that the House viii reconsider its action
In conference.