St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-18
UNCLE SANS CAUSE.
He May Sue the Local Directors
for the Appropriations.

for the Appropriations.
WASHINGTON, June 17.-The opinion
of the court of appeals in deciding that
the Worlds Columbian exposition at
Chicago shall be opened on Sunday was
received here by press bulletin early
in the afternoon. Attorney General Oh
ney at a late hour this evening had re-
ceived no official announcement OF the
fact. He said that his department had
clear record in the case, and had eX-
hausted every legal means to enforce
the mandate of congress in the matter.
1t was generally acknowledged that the
act of congress in regard TO opening the
worlds fair Sunday was couched III
language sufficiently dubious to make
its intent doubtful, and that both those
who favored the opening Of the fair
Sunday and those who were op-
posed to it had plausible ground
to stand upon. 1t seemed to
him that the end had now been reached;
though he was not entirely sure. not
having carefully examined the law, but
that an appeal should be taken to the
supreme court of the United States.
This, however, would seem to be use
less, as the court did not meet until
October, and before the case could be
closed by limitation. He could not see
that any injunctions should be thrown
in the way of opening the fair OH Sun
day, but as the matter was in the imme-
diate charge of United States Attorney
Milchrist and two able assistants, he
had no doubt that they would exhaust
every legal means known to law to up
hold the intentO of congress. While he
saw no means in sight, perhaps those
who had been more Intimately aSsoclat-
ed with the case than he would yet
discover some.
Other matters of complicated char
acter, he said, would undoubtedly grow
out of this decision. For instance, the
donation of congress of 50. 100000 to the
fair had been coupled with the condi-
ton that the fair could not Opeu Sun
days. The decision of the court of ap-
peals that the fair could be open Sum
day. and the Well-known intent of the
local directory to open it Sunday
would seem to imply Oh their part
upon which the money was granted.
The local directory had already re-
ceived in round figures S1,900,000.
Could not the government, he asked,
now proceed by legal means to collect
the money advanced, as the condition
upon which 1t had been received had
been forfeited? 1t was certain TO his
mind that the government could not
now give to the worlds fair authOri-
ties the 100000 still retained in the
treasury, but which had been
appropriated upon certain conditions
The condition was that security was
the 100000 should be given. Up to to-
day this money would have to have
been paid by the government had the
security been furnished. 1t had not
been furnished, and so had been re-
turned in the treasury. But now, in
view of the decision, even If the Sc
curity were furnished, the government
could not pay out the money to the
worlds fair people. Doubtless
a proposition to take steps to recover
the 81, ,900,0 900 already paid out. He had
not yet seen the text of the decision,
or seen published the exact grounds
upon which the decision was granted,
and therefore he could not say what
course he would pursue. Perhaps the
gate money could be impounded to re-
imburSe the government. Still, he was
not entirely clear as to this, and would
have to consider the matter more in
detail.
Another question affected by the de-
cision was the government exhibits.
All the departments of the government
had exhibits at the fair. and all the ap-
propriatIonS mRde for them were
coupled with the condition that the ex-
hiblts should not be open on Sunday.
1t was entirely clear that the govern
ment exhibits could not be open on
Sunday, but the conditions imposed
might have gone further and might
prevent the government exhibits
from being open Oh any day. now that
it had been decided that 1t was legal to
open the worlds fair Sunday. He
hardly thought, however, that the law
would bear this construction. Number
less other questions of minor Importance
would come up, he said, for decision
and action In view Of the opinion rem
dered today bv the court of appeals.
n