The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-06-05

BIT OF ALLEGED HISTORY
Democratic Senators Made promise
To Portland Exposition Mana
gers-They kept it.

From POrIlanu comes d very pleI-
ty little story in connection with the
appropriation made at the special ses-
sion Of the legislature for transfer Of
the Montana exhibit from st. Louis
to the Lewis and Clarke exposition.
The. tale has it that to the dem
ocratic members Of the upper house
OF the Montana legislature are the
Portlanders indebted for the appro-
priation and that because of a prom
Use made by those same members
last winter the attempt at the regular
session to pass an appropriation for
the Louisiana Purchase exposition
failed. The Portland Evening Tele-
gram is responsible for the story,
which paper relates it as follows:
A niece of inside history has come
to light since the passage by the
Montana legislature of IN appropria-
ton for the Lewis and Clarke expo
sitions during the special session OF a
few days ago. 1t shows the the dem
ocratic senate of the assembly OF that
state proved to be a ~steadfast friend
of the coast exposition through a
combination which was formed at h
time of the regular session and which
was firmly adhered to.
Governor TOole, of Montana, at the
time of the regular legislative gather
ing, was of the opinion that the state
treasury was not in a condition to
bear a large appropriation for EXPOSE
tion purposes. Since then, however,
affairs have altered. The governor
originally recommended a nominal
sum for the transfer of the Montana
exhibit from st. Louis to Portland in
the spring of 1905, with the expecta-
ton that the legislature of that year
would make a further appropriation
to maintain the exhibit during the
fair here.
When the representative OF the
Lewis and Clarke board was in Hell
ena a few months ago carrying On
negotiations for an appropriation, he
said to the senators and representa-
tives that mounting less than 100000
should be given to the Portland ex-
position; or, better, the local enter
prise should receive equal attention
with that of St. Louis.
Finally an agreement wah made by
the democratic senate OF Montana
that when the appropriation bill for
expositions came UP from the house
it would not be passed for the rea
son that it carried but $4,000 for the
transfer of the exhibit OF that state
1t turned out when the pill did make
it's appearance, that it tailed OF pas
sage and adjournment came wlthou
anything being done for the fair
The leaders of the senate were true
to their promise made to Special Com
missioner C. H. McIsaac, anu a few
lays ago when a special session was
Edli0u, dlu LAC III " SAS ONfO~
tons came up. it named $4,000 as thu
sum for maintenance OF Montana
display at the Portland fair, n al
lowed S25, 1000 for the collection
transportation and arrangement of tn
display at st. Louis. The incident
the more interesting from the fac
that the senate of the assembly
democratic, and the house was reput
lican.
Montana and it's capital have
close interest in the Portland expos
ton. Part of Montana was include
in the original Oregon country, as
was once known; Helena is in Levi
and Clarke county, and there are ri'
ers in the state named tor both of tn
explorers.