Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-04
THE LOAN TO THE FAIR
DEBATE IN THE SENATE YESTER-
DAY AFTERNOON.
Mr.. Elkins Suggests That the Money
Be Borrowed From the Banks
of st. Louis.

The last two hours of the session of the
Senate yesterday were taken up largely
with a debate on the proposition to make a
loan to the Louisiana purchase exposition.
During the debate the Philippines and
campaign issues in general came in for dis
cussion.
Mr. Spooner made the important and ap-
parently authorized announcement that the
republican party did not intend to enter
into a revision of the tariff at this session
of Congress Asked why. he replied that
the reason was found In the fact that such
an effort would too greatly disturb the
busine IS interests OF the country. presi-
Dental election was entirely a sufficient
disturber OF business without adding un-
necessarily 70 the complied tons.
To Prevent Humiliation.
Mr. Spooner then turned his attention to
the proposition for loan to the exposition.
and spoke for some time in opposition to
Mr.. Baieys point of order and In support
of the amendment Having done what he
has DONE Uncle Sam is he said. ''bound
to go forward, for under the circumstances
the failure of the fair would be humiliation.
not alone to st. Louis and the Mississippi
valley. but 10 the entire country.
He also contended that the security was
good and that the loan would be repaid.
Mr. McComas took the position that the
interest manifested by foreign countries
in the fair rendered il imperative that the
United States should take steps to insure
its success.
Mr. Elkins spoke again. dwelling upon
the probable deficit In the treasury, and
saying that already he could see how the
surplus in the treasury would be exhausted.
II this appropriation should be made it
would be necessary to stint other appro-
priations. possibly In support of Our rule in
the Philippines. which he said, rs right
and just
Mr. Mitchell interrupted to ask Mr..
Eliins II he would not regard the failure
of the exposition as a humiliation. and
Mr.. Bailey replied for Mr.. Elkins by ask
ing Mr.. Mitchell for his opinion as to what
effect the failure would have on the Lewis
and Clarke exposition, to be held next year
In Portland. To this question Mr.. Mitchell
replied that the Portland exposition had
nothing to do with the question in contro-
versy.
Like the Brook.
Mr.. Bailey quoted Mr.. Tillman as having
asked where the practice of giving aid to
such institutions would stop. and. replying.
said. like the brook. 1t would go On for
ever" He also referred to the fact that,
notwithstanding Mr.. Tiiman's Impotence
with the amendment. he intended voting
for il because Of the aid that the Charles
ton exposition had received OF Congress.
Mr.. Tiilman made an explanation Of the
assistance given to Charleston. He also
referred with evident feeling to Mr.. Bailey's
reference to his own attitude. saying that
the latter had characterized the apprepri-
alton as a steal"
speak of the appropriation so harshly. II
don't go so far he said. L con-
slider it transportation" Mr. Bailey
then repeated his declaration of interest In
M nt,iS NJ
only commentaries the Louisiana pur
chase. but because 1t erects a monument to
the memory of Thomas Jefferson. but, anx
ious as he was for that success. he could
not give his assent to government aid to
secure that success. The national govern.
ment, indeed, should have no part ia any
undertaking of the kind If string OF
farmers reaching from St. Louis to Wash
ington should ask for loan to aid in max
ing their crops 1t would be declined. as 1t
was declined when the subtreasury scheme
was so strenuously ADVOCATED some years
ago. They had offered security which
would have appealed even to Mr.. Elkins.
Mr.. Lodge thought the loan proposition
should not be supported. 1t goes too far,
he said. and he added that he would rather
See the money given outright than loaned.
He did not consider as good the security
offered. for If 1t was good there would be
no difficulty IN securing the money in the
money markets Of the country.
Expected Fair Receipts.
Replying to a question from Mr.. Fair
banks, Mr. Hale said it was believed that
the total receipts of the fair would far ex-
coed $2o.oOooO9.
Mr.. Hale defended the committee on ap-
propriations from Mr.. Elkins' charge that
the committee had not given due care in
reporting the amendment to the Senate.
and said that the committees action had
been taken only In response to the demands
OF the Senate and to preserve the exposi-
ton from possible bankruptcy. He ex-
pressed regret that the country had en-
barked upon policy of supporting expo
sitions and facetiously referred to the bill
appropriating $2!00G.0o0 for the Oregon ex-
position as the raid of the senator from
Oregon" referring to Mr.. Mitchell. He ex-
pressed the opinion that popular opinion in
the Senate would also force that enterprise
through
And I hope the senator from Maine will
be with u.s." said Mr.. Mitchell
1T Is altogether probable that 1 will be.
responded Mr.. Hale, "for / am not fond Of
leading professions of which am the only
member
Continuing his speech. Mr. Eikins further
urged that If the security for the proposed
loan is as good as represented 1t should be
advanced In st. Louis. The banks there.
he said. have one hundred millions on de-
post to loan. If Gov Francis, Mr.. Eikins
said would indorse the note. he had no
doubt that the money could be easily Sc
cured In his own city.
When Mr.. Efkins concluded at 5:O2 the
Senate went into executive session without
concluding the debate, and at SOS ad-