Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-25
AID FOR THE FAIR.
The President Sends a Message to
Congress on the Subject.
THAT FIVE MILLION-DOLLAR GIFT.
He Hadn't Looked Into 1t Enough to Make
Recommendation.
SUPPORT OUGHT NOT TO BE WITHHELD

President to-day sent to Congress the fol-
lowing message:
transmit herewith for the information of
Congress the annual report of the Worlds
! Columbian Commission, n supplementary
| report of the same commission submitted
| February 16, 1892, the report of the board ap-
| pointed by me under section 16 of the act of
| April 25, 1890, to have charge of the exhibit
to be made by the Executive Departments,
the Smithsonian Institution, the Fish Com
mission and the National Museum, and the
report of the Board of Lady Managers, pro-
vided tor by section of the act referred to.
The Information furnished by these re-
| ports as to the progress of the work is not
only satisfactory but highly gratifying. The
plan and scope adopted anu the site and
buildings selected and now being erected
| are fully commensurate with the national
| or international character of the enterprise
contemplated by the legislation of Congress.
| The Illinois corporation has fully complied
| with the condition of the law that $40 600, 900
| should be provided, and the Governments
| Commission reports that "the grounds and
| buildings will be the most extensive, ade-
quate and ornate ever devoted to such pur-
| poses"
Five Millions Wanted rs a Gift.
1t seems, however, that S., 900, 600 to ss0O0,000
more will in the opinion of the Local Board
and National Commission be necessary to
piCpdIo buO pOSltlOu lOI mplctO dhN
successful Inauguration. 1t will be noticed
from the reports that it was first proposed
by the Local Commission to ask OF Congress
loan OF SIS, ,000, 900 to be repaid from receipts,
and that the National Commission approved
the suggestion. Subsequently the Illinois
Exposition corporation reconslderea It's
action and determined to ask subscription
of S. 000, 900.
The supplementary report of the National
Commission seems to approve this amended
/ no VI nj m vgaIf q
information as to the financial necessities OF
the enterprise which would enable me to
form an independent Judgment of the addi-
tional amount necessary and am not there
fore prepared to make any specific recon-
mendation to Congress upon the subject.
Advises Congress Not to Withhold support.
The committee of Congress having this
matter in charge will undoubtedly obtain
fuller accurate information before final ac-
tion. The Exposition, Notwithstanding the
limitations which the act contains, is an en-
terprise to which the United States is SO far
committed that Congress ought not, think,
to withhold just and reasonable support If
the local corporation consents to proper !
conditions. Liberality the part of the |
United States is due to foreign nations that |
have responded in a friendly way to the in |
vitation of this Government to participate |
in the Exposition, and will am sure, meet |
the approval of our people. The Exposition |
Will be one of the most illustrious incidents |
lYs
transmit also certain resolutions adopted |
by representatives of the National Guard of |
the various States appointed by the Gov |
c1S srn9Ts to attend convention 7e which ,sai was
with view to consider the subject of hold |
ing military encampment at Chicago dur
ing the Exposition.
The report of the Columbian Commission
mentioned in the Presidents message is
signed by President Palmer, and dated
Chicago, November 25, 1891. A general
outline of the substance of this report has I
been made public, though MI. Palmer re-
fused to give out the report when he pre-
sented it to the President.
Work Progressing Very satisfactorily.
The report speaks of the satisfactory ad-
vancement in every department of the
work and of assured success. The Expesi-
tion site is described, the various buildings |
enumerated and the work of the admins
trative departments commended.
The following comment is made under the |
heading, the Board of Lady Managers:
This auxiliary body is actively and ener-
getically engaged in the work within the
sphere assigned to it by the commission, and
its achievements already vindicate the
propriety of its creation and leave no room
for doubt that it will be the means of en-
larging the influence and usefulness of
women of all participating nations as well
Of the proposed loan of $4,000, 900 the
report says:
During the fifth session of the National
Commission, held in September in 1891. the
Worlds Columbian Exposition (the Illinois
corpora tion). after having made a careful
and accurate estimate of the expenditures
that would be required to prepare and equip |
the grounds and buildings in a manner !
reasonably adequate to meet the demands
of the Exposition, determined that it would
tiOn a l
loan of So OO0, ,000 and also that it intended to
apply to the. Congress of the United States
for such loan.
The communications of President Baker
to President Palmer asking the eo-opera-
tion of the National Commission in support
of the effort to secure the loan proposed
are given, together with the report of its
Judiciary Committee, to which the National
Commission referred their request
why the Appropriation Is Asked.
The action OF the commission, the report
saws, is based upon the finding by the di-
rectory of the Illinois corporation of the
necessity for the loan and upon the further
fact that in the judgment of the commission
the Illinois corporation had made ample
provision for acquiring the $4,000, 900
which it was required to raise and furnish
by the act Of Congress, and had fully dis
charged its obligation in that behalf. The
commission recommends that provision be
made for its necessary current expenses in
order that it may be able to properly dis
charge the duties and functions imposed
upon it by Congress.
1t also asks an appropriation to pay