Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1897-01-16
EXPOSITION GROWS IN FAVOR
Object of the Enterprise Leads Its Way to
Financial Assistance.
LEGISLATORS TAKE UP WITH THE IDEA
Dudley smiths min Has Many Warm
FricndI Already, but VIII Meet
Many Amendments
on Its Way.

LINCOLN jan 15.-(special Tclegram)-
Despite the frantic assertions OF few
opponents Of the proposal to appropriate a
sufficient sum OF money from the state
treasury to enable the state of Nebraska TO
make creditable showing at the Trans
mississippi Exposition, the fact yet remains
that the proposition is growing in favor
among the members of the legislature The
bill introduced by Representative Dudley
Smith of Omtha although not yet out Of
the printers hands, is already the topic Ct
conversation in legislative circles in Lincoln.
1t is developing some warm friends amons
the popullst members alti.oUsn all do not
agree with all the expressed terms Of the
bill Many amendments will doubtless be
offered, and already some practical sugge5-
lions are talked Of.
Ex-senator II. G. Stewart of Dawes county,
one of the best known middle-of-the-road
populists of the state, for two terms a
senator from his district and assistant sec
rotary of the senate at the present session,
said this morning that, generally speakin6,
he was in, favor of the appropriation. He
believed that the provision making the
twelve state directors members of the regular
Board of Directors of the Tfansmlssi5sippi
and International Exposition company was
very wise one, and that 1t would enable
the state TO secure better returns LOT the
money Invested than If a commission were
appointed to act Independent of the EXpc5-
ton company Under the plan adopted in
making the appropriation for the Nebraska
exhibit at the Worlds fair. said Senator
Stewart, large proportion of the money was
dis'ipated in the payment of the salaries and
expenses o. great many officials. Senator
Stewart is of the opinion, however, that the
state should secure some tangible return for
the money voted to the exposition. He
bnt n nrn ba irC Cd In, h..
bill requiring the Exposition company to
donate to the state at the close of the fair
some of the larger buildings, 10 be
used for the benefit of the people
of the state In order to give his idea
practical form he suggested that it might
be wise move to either locate the big
fair on the State fair grounds or remove
the fair grounds permanently to a point
nearer the city of Omaha and by locating
! the Exposition buildings upon the new
site give to the state of Nebraska some
permanent buildings for State fair pur-
poses that would make the state fair the
superior of any held in the United States.
He also suggested that at least one OF the
buildings ii constructed of structural iron,
be removed to the city of Lincoln to be
used as a part of the equipment of the
University of Nebraska. One of the Expo
sition buildings he thought could be de-
signed In such a manner that all of the
permanent structural portion could be ad-
miTably used for one OF the large buildings
at the university.
Another suggestion made by Senator
Stewart was that the bill should contain a
provision requiring the Exposition manage
| ment to devote portion of the money APP
propriaei to a model irrigation farm of
at least forty acres. Upon this farm should
be planted. various crops. all to be placed in
the hands Of practical irrigation men who
would show the immense advantages of
! irrigation through the entire season.
Senator Stewart Is one of the leaders Of
the populist party and comes from section
of the. state where the prevailing business
depression PITCHES the hardest. He is
nevertheless favorable to an appropriation
commensurate with the importance and
dignity of the state. But he says. that as
far his people concerned. they feel
that the state should have some tangible
return for the money the state proposes to
invest. -r