Mexico weekly ledger., 1899-02-16

at ali sges tender OF heart and lovely
In disposition and noble in every
aspiration of their warm and generous
hearts--n
Just at this point the c-cwd-mem-
bers, spectators and all-rose to their
feet and shouted, "Bravol Bravoi"
producing such confusion that the
flow OF Ozark eloquence was COM
pletely stopped and the speaker TAX
en- of his feet.
This story Of the ''boys' legislatnre"
lie bottomed on facts The speeches
made by these bright little fellows
are sometimes very good indeed, and
who knows but that come OF these
boys now getting thsr FIRST lessons n
legislation as pages will some day be
champions OF the peoples rights in
the Congress- OF the United States
Senator German, now one Of the best
and brightest Democratic leaders, was
once page In the Senate.
On Thursday night of last week the
Ways and Means Committee room
was crowded, Quite number of
Senators and Reprssentives-a citi-
gems OF St. Louis we're present,
Among the visitors we're Attorney
General Walker, Ex-Governor Nor
man J ColmaD, Robert Aull, President
of the st. Louis Fair Association. The
occasion was the consideration by the
committee of a bill subjecting to tax
alton the grounds of the st. Louis
Fair Association, about 140 acres and
worth about 100000. All grounds
therein situated and used for fair
purposes have never been taxed in
this or any other State for any pur-
pose. Such grounds have always been
exempt from taxation because Of the
uses to which they are put. They
bring no revenue whatever to the fair
association or to the owners OF the
land, but constitute q meeting place
for exhibitors of farm products, gar
den products, live stock, SO. All the
profits arising from the fairs are used
20 pay premiums and other expenses,
and the association has never paid 3
dividend.
Ex-Attorney General Walker, Mr..
Anll, ex-Gov. Colman and Represent
ative johnson opposed the bill. Gov.
CoIman's speech was magnificent,
thrilling and eloquent review of the
history of the St. Louis Fair. He told
now, since 1855, when fairs we're just
coming into notice and use In this
country, few public spirited men,
who are known as gentlemen Of high
character, bought these outlying lands,
improved them, established the ST..
Louis Fair, bore all expenses for 40
odd years without ever asking dime
from the State. The old gentleman
waxed warm as he proceeded, and In
blazing words he told how this fair
association had laid the foundation Of
all State and County fairs in this great
and growing west and had aided to an
incalculable degree in lifting Missouri
up to her present place as the "empire
State of the wonderful west" These
grounds, he claimed, had been training
and show grounds OF nearly all the fine
stock which had given this great State
It's reputation for fine saddle, trotting
and racing stock and its splendid
herds OF Shorthorns, Herefords and
Jerseys, So, and now as we all are
bending our beet energies to prepare
and hold a Worlds Fair at st. Louis In
1908 for these gentlemen to come here
and with uplifted knife attempt
to cut to its vitals this fair associa-
tion in the manner indicated BY
this bill is shame, and its approval
BY this committee would be enough
to make any member blush for very
shame. General Walkers speech was
3 good and strong plea for continued
exemption from taxation and he was
backed up most vigorously BY thai
correct, dashing and handsome "boy'i
who represents in part St. Louis
County, Mr.. Roland L. Johnston. The
committee almost unanimously voted
TO report uniavorably and did so on
the next (Friday) morning. Mr.,
BuFches Of 81. Louis, however, pre-
vailed upon the House to order the
bill to engrossment, Notwithstanding
the adverse report Of the committee,
When il comes up for hnaI consider
alton II will evoke an interesting and
strong debate. The true principle i
this; When property is used for q
purposs from which the general pub
lie derives beneft, direct or Indirect,