The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-02-09

A further important and very material provt-
sion In the foregoing substitute, one not included
In H. r 9s2s. will be found in section 20. Under
the act OF the Legislature OF the State Of Mis-
souri, authorizing the people OF that state at
the last general election to vote upon the cues
tion Of whether or not the Constitution of the
State Of Missouri shall be amended as to en-
able the people OF the city of ST. Louis to issue
bonds In the sum OF s. 900. 900 to aid in carrying
on the proposed Exposition. II was provided that
the net proceeds Of the Exposition shall be divid-
ed equally between the stockholders Of the COM
pany and the city Of ST. Louis. In view Of the
financial aid which the Federal Government Is
asked to contribute to this enterprise IL was
deemed only Just and fair that In the event of
such aid being given and in the event Of there
being any net proceeds the United States should
share prcportionately with the other contributors
to the Exposition.
Your committee therefore provide:
SEQ 20 That there shall be repaid into the
Treasury OF the United States the same propor-
Tomato amount Of the aid given by the United
States as shall be repaid to either the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Company or the city Of St
Louis; provided that this section shall not be
taken or construed to give the United States q
right TO share in the proceeds Of said Exposition
beyond the actual amount appropriated to aid in
carrying forward said Exposition
Under the provisions Of the foregoing substi-
tute therefore. II 10 believed that every interest
OF the Government In said Exposition will BE-
OF H. r. es,s. In the event of favorable action
on the part OF the House. the adoption of the
recommended
inbefore stated. For tho information Of the
House the committee hereto append a statement
showing the amounts heretofore Appropriated by
Congress- In aid Of similar Expeditions including
q detailed statement Of tho amount appropriated
and expended by the Government In aid of the
Worlds Columbian Exposition At Chicago. cThese
figures have heretofore been printed in The Re-
public)
MINORITY REPORT IS A
NEGATIVE ENDORSEMENT.
The minority report Is as follows:
The undersigned cannot agree with the report
Of the committee. nor can they vote for the bill
reported. II pgecedents could justify an appro-
priation by Congress for the purpose sought TO be
accomplished by this bill. then precedents. ample
and numerous can be found. Like Iegisiatiou-
money appropriated. for expositions at Pniladei.
phia. at New Orleans. n Atlanta. at Chicago.
We don't think. however that precedents can
give TO Congress-. or TO the Federal Government.
q Questionable precedent can do is to return to
plague its inventors.
The event to be celebrated hy the St. Louis
to the people Of the United states ranks superior
delphia Centennial. Ali others sink by compari-
son into insisnincance. At Philadelphia was ceis-
celebrated the event which gave the Republic a re-
hs sna By
the great and central artery Of body polite
and our body commercial. II. therefore. the mag
eHcence Of Its effects and the nationality OF its
character. would Justify an appropriation for its
centennial celebration, this legislation would
stand more than justified
Notwithstandins Al, ,h,, hewsvsr cs We beliey.
expedient for the United States Government to
g into the exposition business; b. % We believe that.
the fact eth that ,g Iledse & Sy CSnsrsss to 60 on
objection Of lack Of authority. then Il must be
confessed that such pledge was solemnly given
with regard to this project In a provision OF the
last sundry civil act But we see no
greater force in the pledge ultra wires than In :
proposition for original legislation Of the same
character. II. in short. Congress was ever iusti.
ned. or could be Justified in LEGISLATION Of this
character. then II would be in this fnstancs
The end and purpose Of the legislation being once
sranted to be within our power. and expedieutiy
to be exercised by u.s. 1t must be admitted that
there can be no quarrel with the measure adopted
the provisions Of this special bill. The Gov-
ernments interests are carefully guarded and
experiences with other exposition ventures has
been use3u guide to the committee.