The National tribune., 1892-06-02
SHALL. WASHINGTON HAVE THE APP
PROPRIATIONe

A WIN nave OuC iudetCk az ga
carefully are quite clear that Congress:
should give substantial assistance to the
City of Washington in entertaining the
| National Encampment.
| 1t has been the rule in National Encamp.
ments that the State Legislature should aid
the city in which the National Encampment
was held in bearing the great expense OF the
affair. This was done by Minnesota when
the Eucampment was held at Minneapolis;
| by Colorado when the Encampment was
held at Denver; by Maine when it was held
| in Portland; by Ohio when it was held at
Columbus; by Wisconsin when it was held
at Milwaukee, and by Massachusetts, when
it was held at Boston. State pride, If no
other motive, dictated this. 1t was felt that
the honor Of the State was involved in
properly entertaining the soldiers OF the
Nation when within the boundaries of the
State. There was something Of Interstate
comfy in this, for the reason that each State
had successfully entertained the sons of the
Others.
Washington has no State Legislature or
City Council. Congress stands in the rela-
ton of both those bodies to it, and the ap-
preparation that is now asked of Congress
represents what both the Legislatures and
City Councils have done for ether cities
which have entertained National Encamp-
ments OF the 100000 asked for, one-half
will come from the taxpayers Of the city,
and the other half from the Treasury of the
United States. The $4,000 taken from the
Treasury viii represent what the Councils
and Legislatures of other places have given
The amount is infinitesimal when spread
over the whole United States. 1t will
amount to less than one thirteenth Of cent
for every man, woman and child of the
6500o,0o0 people of the United States.
1t is frequently asked, "What can Wash
"Ath 6o AhuNh AA@ASy 'NS
don't her own citizens raise it? What use
can be made of it? Why don't her own
citizens, who are to profit by the holding of
the Encampment, subscribe the funds need
full for the legitimate and necessary expenses
of such gaihering?" Fortunately, these
questions can easily be answered in the most
satisfactory manner. In the first place, the
necessary and legitimate expenses of such
gathering are vastly more than any one
thinks who has not had experience in such
matters. To prepare any city for the recep-
tien of 100000 guests, and their entertain
ment for a week, is an enormous undertak-
ing. All manner of items run up rapidly
into thousands of dollars The Committee
on Public Comfort is one Of the minor COM
nittees which viii have enormous expendi-
lures. Everything has to be specially pre-
pared for the enormous throng.
Then there is the item of free lodgings
for those who desire them. 1t amazed the
Citizens Executive Committee of Washing
ton when they came to consult with the
members of similar committees in other
cities where National Eneampments had
been held to find that they had to provide
free quarters for from 10000 to 10000 men.
These quarters cost the committees from
SI10 to $14O for each person so accommo-
dated. 1t is confidently believed that there
will have to be fully twice IS many pro-
vided with free accommodations in Wash
ington as in any other city, for the reason
that the attendance will certainly be twice
as large. This will involve an expenditure
of from $40, 900 to 10000 alone 1t will be
scandalous if sufficiency of quarters are not
provided. The veterans will expect Ii, and
they, as well as the tens Of thousands who
do not expect free quarters. will be angered,
and have right to be angry, if they are
not provided.
The people of Washington have already
subscribed literally. They have raised
SAL 600, and will increase this to over $780,
600. In proportion to the wealth of the
city this is as well, If not better, than any
other city has done. It must be remembered
that Washington Is not at all a rich city.
One third of its population Is made up Of
negroes, large proportion of whom were
slaves few years ago Another large pro-
portion are clerks and Government en-
ployes, on small salaries. There are here no
great factories, no extensive wholesale
houses, or other wealthy concerns such as
are liberal givers in other cities. The
wealthy residents Of Washington are mainly
birds of passage, who occupy their houses
here for only few months during the Win
| ter, and have their principal interests else
| where.
tim be remembered all the time that
the coming National Encampment will be
National in itA character. Previous En-
| campments have been local in their char.
acter. The manner of their entertainment
principally concerned the cities and States