New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-01
As TO 1 PROPOSED TAUIBITION

There is probably not much reason TO believe
that the Committee of Ways and Means will be
unduly eager to report to the House in favor of
the bill TO appropriate 100000 annually in sup
port Of the International Permanent Exhibition
Company which is said To have been organized
in this city We do not suppose that Mr. i. i.
Thurber himself. who appeared before the com
mittce on Thursday in behalf of this measure
and who is an ingenious and fire. uenty sanGuinc
man, fears that the money will be available be-
fore the company is prepared to make use OF H.
Congress is always slow to draw on the National
Treasury for the promotion Of enterprises evolved
in New-York and there is little risk in assuming
that no exception TO :he rule will be made in this
instance. Delibcration will doubtless pr"cci.e
appropriation it ought TO do but we venture
TO offer two three suggestions which the COM
mittee may perhaps dcign to take into account
We have no question that the hearts of the
gentlemen composing the International Icrma-
ncnt Exhibition Company beat warmly for their
native land They would like to see its glory
and prosperity augmented. and its gorgeous en-
sign kissed by all the winds that blow. They are
Justly convinced. moreover. that there Is great
lack Of knowledge in other countries rs 10 orr
resources and facilities for supplying their ma
tcrial wants 1t is true also. that American
producers have hitherto left many things undonc
to prove the superiority of their wares, 10 per
suade foreigners of their excellence and to Guilt
vate markets for them all over the Globe. Amer
can manufacturers and commercial agents have
singularlv failed to serve their own interests by
neglectng to study the tastes and customs of
foreigners with whom they would like 70 in
crease their trade hundred-fod. They have
TOO generally proceeded on the theory that what
was good enough for Americans was good
enough for anybody. which is true In sense.
but not to the point People usually buy what
they like. not what they are told they ought TO
like A shrewdcr calculation OF the proclivites
Of foreign purchasers and their ways Of living
would have greatly multiplied our customers and
increased our exports.
All this will be granted 50 soon rs II Is heard.
bu: Il does not necessarily settle the case in
favor of the International Permanent Exhibi-
ton Company and an appropriation. 1t does not
follow. even if their plan for inspiring zeal and
diffusing knOwle 'ge Is well adapted TO the pur-
pose, that the Government Is under any obliga-
ton 10 promote it at the rate Of 100000 year;
and as 10 the company's qualifications there Is
probably sufficient doubt IN the minds of mem
bcrs OF the Committee OF Ways and Means to
suggest the propricty Of a careful investigation.
1t might be found on inquiry that. though the
company full If energy and patriotism, the
prospect Of its accomplishing It's object was
somewhat more remote and doubtful than the
projectors enthusiasm permits them TO cOncedc
Exhibitions on q large scale have not invariably
succeeded either from a spectacular or an edu
ca,ional point Of view, and as an investment we
believe they have generally turned out badly
We seem to remember, for example, that out or
the relies Of the Worlds Fair Of 1876 socalled
permanent exhibition was organized at Phila-
dclphia. which enjoyed only a brief and pre-
| carous existence. We do not cite that expert
cncc as fair basis for comparison, but merely
as an illustration OF the tendency OF such things
| TO run down at the heels. Ii may be more peril
| nont to alludc TO the American Institute Fair,
| which after long but not always prosperous
career was intermittc1 for several years. though
| it is likely to be revived next fall We do not
believe that many persons would be astonished,
| IT, having been launched by Government aid,
| the proposed exhibition in NewYork should
| quickly run aground and 60 to pieces.
| There are some other considerations which the
| Committee Of Ways and Means will probably no.
| overlook in reaching conclusion about this mat
ter 1t will be proper TO inquire, for instance,
what are the relations between the international
| Permanent Exhibition Company and the owners
| Of the bull ling in LcXlngtonave. which Is APP
| parently destined to be the home Of the cXhibl-
ton in case its projectors hopes are realized.
| On this point and several more should cX-
pect entirely satisfactory information to be given
before an appropriation OF 100000 was made.
That is good deal Of money TO take out Of the
public treasury annually for an indefinite term
OF years We are not sure but that sum II IT
were expended in raising The quality Of our
consular service would accomplish more for the
commercial fame and prosperity Of the United
| States than II 1t were spent upon an Intcrna-
| tlonal Permanent Exhibition in Ncw-York
THE NICARAGUA CANAL