The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1901-03-15
Representative Tawney, of Mime
sofa, Tells How the Worlds
Fair Bill Was Passed.
II VERY NARROWLY ESCAPED DEFEAT.
onIy the Indsmitnbie Energy ANA
PersIxtcnt Effort Of the -. Louis
workers saved Ii From stransu-
lation by n Heavy Load Of Rid


Minnesota, chairman OF the house
committee which reported the World
fair bill, reviewed in an interesting
way the history Of this measure and
many incidents connected with It's
consideration and passage by con-
gress. Mr.. Tawney said:
IL consider the passage of the bill
authorizing an international EXPOSE
ton at st. Louis 10 commemorate the
one hundrcth anniversary of the Lou
isiana Purchase and appropriating
from the federal treasury s50OO,O0O
to aid in making the same a success,
a most emphatic Endorsement OF our
present end past policy of expansion,
and one of the greatest achievements
In national exposition legislation we
have ever witnessed. The amount al
propriated far surpa sses all previous
appropriations for exposition pur-
poses. and the plan under this law for
the control and supervision OF the cN-
position. in my Judgment. is superior
TO any heretofore provided for
ron account IF he Chicago Column
bian exposition the government ex-
pended S5,3sl, SIS. OF this amount,
however. only Sc.5r0.Co0 was appro-
priatcd direstly for the exposition or
TO directly aid in carrying il forward
TO success The remaining S2,ssl,>S5
was expended for the erection of gov
eminent buildings, salaries of Worlds
Columbia commission board of lady
managers and expenses of the govern
ment board of control and other cx-
penses. The greater part of the ex-
penses was incurred on account of the
failure of the law to throw upon the
local corporation that derived all the
benefit from the receipts of the ex-
position the responsibility for all of
these expenditures outside of the gov
ernmcnt building and its exhibit and
the care of the same.
1T would be impossible 10 say what
was the controlling factor in securing
this unprecedented result in the his
tory of national exposition legisla-
ton. In my Judgment nothing con-
tributed more than the indomitable
courage and persistent and deter
mined effort on the part of the people
of St. Louis to undertake and make
this the greatest exposition of the
world, and the comprehensive grasp
which their representatives. both in
congress and out of congress, includ-
ing Gov. Francis. Mr.. Spencer and ex-
Congressman Cobb. took of the situa-
ton and of the necessity of abso-
lutely complying with every condition
they proposed and fulfilling every
promise they made with respect to
the part the people of St. Louis and
the state of Misso ri would take In
making this exposition worthy of the
great international event il is intend
ed to celebrate. 1t was this fact that
I'm the first instance inspired conf
and senate in the success of the cx-
position. and prompted them to lend
every assistance in the power of the
government necessary to insure that
result.
The fact that the amount asked
for was double The amount ever APP
propriatcd for any rational or inter
national exposition at first staggered
many senator's and members of tine
house. With some il is believed that
the gentlemen representing the peo-
pie of Missouri. who appeared before
tn. special committee of the house,
would have been as much surprised
as the members of congress would
have been had they received at that
time the full sum of $1,000, 900 now
appropriated.
'.But the idea of appropriately COM
mcmorating the Inauguration of the
policy Of expansion, which next to our
triumph for liberty. for independence
and the Union. is unequaled by any
event in our history. either national
or international. commenced to grow,
and when. by the amendment TO the
supdry civil bill. passed at the last
session Of congress. the faith of the
government was pledged to aid in
event a grand national success. there
was little or no doubt Of the ultimate
passage of the measure.
Unfrieadly Members On Committee.
But notwithstanding this fact, the
way to success was beset with many
difficulties. the chief one being q want
of opportunity under the rules OF
both houses for the members OF
either body. as a whole. to give ex
precision to their judgment and their
desire in the premises in this form OF
Legislation. The special committed
tnnd am not divulging any secret in
saying it) were, with few exceptions
selected not because they were friend
" 10 the proposition. but the reverse
However, this obstacle was readily
overcome when the st. Louis delega
tion. headed by Gov. Francis, ap
peared before the committee at thi.
session, with conclusive evidence that
every condition imposed by the gov
eminent and 20 be performed by III,