The Evening dispatch. [volume] (Provo, City, Utah) 1891-1895, 1894-03-01
PROVO CITY. MARCH l. 1894
SUBSIDIZING FAIRS.

We are a great stiGkler for pllghted
faith. We believe In redeeming every,
fairly made obligation, but at the same
time we are unalterablY opposed to
voting away the peoples money, eX-
cept on the clearest and strongest evi.
dence of the advantage to be reaped.
Nor are these the times for such specu-
latiye use of the peoples money. Our
good friend the Enquirer is opposed to
the payment of fifty thousand dollars
to make good individual outlay at the
recent Columbian exposition, but
favors a bounty for the sugar mills.
We cannot understand nor appreciate
such reasoning. The one is in the ma
ture of an existing obligation, the other
is an obligation to be made out of
whole cloth. 1t is true Columbian fair
subsidy was not granted by the legis-
lature and we may refuse to pay it al
together. But who will dare say that
although perfectly legal, it would be
right? Certain citizens OF Utah pledged
their faith to use their interest with
the incoming legislature to secure re-
endorsement for those who put up the
money because of these pledges, nor does
the obligation seem to be lesseDed be-
cause complaint is made at the way the
money was expended. Those pledglng
the faith of the territory did not prescribe
the way the money was to be expended,
hence they cannot now refuse to re-
deem their pledges on the ground that
the money was unwisely expended.
The one great question to be decided
by the legislature is, was the game
worth the candleP Nor does it cut any
figure that Salt Lake was mainly in
strumental in hurrying the re-
lief bill through the legislature.
Certainly Utah made q most excel
lent showing at that fair. She took
several premiums which are worth to
her far more than the sum granted in
relief, She made the leading exhibit
in mineral, in silk and other produc-
tions, and bore off many premiums in
mechanic arts, music, etc. All this
crowns her youthful brows with
triumph, but, as we have said above,
are these advantages tangible enough
TO be worth sixty thousand dollars
now, when Salt Lake is claiming re-
lief at the hands of the legislature for
her poor? Some other time, possibly,
she would feel this appropriation less
than now. Still we cannot see that
the right of the matter would be af-
fected by that circumstance. She
either owes the money or she does not.
If yea, pay it; if nay, don't pay it. Is
her faith as state involved? If so,
redeem it. If nay, do not. If a few
men made the pledge for her without
her knowledge or coneent, it is PLAIN
that they should come up with the sub
sidY, and not the distressed taxpayers
of the territory. This thing of voting
away the money of the people is rather
a serious matter and it should only be
done under the gravest necessities,
and then only in the most pressing ex-
igencies. The fair name and credit of
the state is one thing, the fair name
and credit of the citizens is another, |
quite. The state will take care of the |
one, the citizens should take care of |
the other. We know 10 other fair way |
of disposing of the other.
Utah invites attention to her many
advantages of agricult ire, mining and
manufacture, Is this the best way to
accomplish this? If so, then there is
nothing further to be asked. But one
thing is proper to remark In this con-
nection. We have had rather costly
object lesson. Let us remember it.
Lay it away to govern in future
similar cases. In this way it may be
worth sixty thousand dollars. If any
one can point to ten thousand dollars
influenced to Utah in this way and bv
means Of the fair in question, perhaps
It will be worth all this sum of sixty
thousand.