Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-26
Canal Exposition Claims Laid
Before Congress.
SANDERS is SPOKESMAN
Louisiana Governor Explains Un-
paid Government Loan.
FORMER WORLDS SHOW DEBT
State Officials Arrive in Washington
and Are Driven to Capitol
In Auto.

The city Of New Orleans was given m
inning before the House committee on
foreign affairs today in the contest now
raging between that city and San Fran
cisco for the honor OF holding an inter-
national exposition in 1915 for the ce,e-
bration OF the completion OF the Panams
canal
Louisianas governor the lieutenant
governor. the entire membership Of the
state legislature, nearly all other state
officers OF Louisiana. the mayor OF New
Orleans and a throng OF prominent pri-
vate citizens appeared TO urge the adyan-
tages OF the southern city
Sanders Is Spokesman.
Gov. Sanders made the principal
speech. and for an hour extolled the
beauties and advantages of the Cres-
cent city There was no other city.
said the governor. where such an ex-
position could be held so appropriately.
He pointed out that New Orleans Is
but 1,S00 miles from the Panama canal,
while San Francisco is 5000 miles dis
tant.
The ghost Of a past exposition in
New Orleans which had failed to meet
its financial obligations caused the del
egation some embarrassment.
Representative Bennett of New York in
quired Of Gov. Saunders IL it were true
that the worlds cotton exposition, held at
New Orleans in 1880. secured from the
government a loan OF 81 ,6JO, 900, which was
never repaid.
Governor Explains Debt.
Gov. Sanders replied in the affirmative.
He added that the sum was not a loan.
as it was conditioned that the money
should be paid back before any dividends
to stockholders were declared. and that
no such dividends ever were declared.
The great benefit accruing to the south.
however, said the governor. more than
| compensated the government for its ex-
penditure
Representative Garner Of Texas asked
Gov. Sanders IL he thought that Con-
gress should invite the other govern
ments Of the world to exhibit at an ex-
position I'm New Orleans before the
United States government had made an
appropriation itself to take part I'm the
EXPOSITION. lie pointed out that the re6O-
| luton introduced in the House by Repre-
sentative Estopinal Of Louisiana merely
approved New Orleans as the exposition
site for the celebration OF the canal OPEN
ing. and invited foreign nations to take
part.
Sanders Asks Square Deal.
Gov. Sanders replied that he thought
that was a matter for Congress to de-
eide. He said that he thought 1t would
not be square deal on the part of the
government, in view Of the fact that the
celebration of the canal opening is TO be
a national affair. to let the entire burden
of financing the exposition fall on the
shoulders Of any one city and state.
whether New Orleans or San Francisco
were the successful claimant.
He was questioned closely by several
members of the committee in regard to
the stand taken by New Orleans and
the exposition company on the PROPOSE
ton Of government aid.
Gov. Sanders declared that the delega-
tion had not come here to ask financial
assistance. but that he believed il should
be given. If ii were not given and New
Orleans were granted the privilege OF
holding the celebration. New Orleans and
Louisiana would bear the entire bur-
den. he said, amid much applause
Gov. Sanders laid much stress upon the
fact that New Orleans was more ac-
cessible for the people of the country.
as we'll as for the people of Central and
South America, than was San Francisco
Ames Tits With Sanders.
Representative Butler Ames OF Mas.a-
chusetts. grandson of Gen. Benjamin
Butler. who was in charge OF New Or
leans during the civil war after the city
had been taken by the federal forces.
tbo
hearing. He asked several questions OF
Gov. Sanders. explaining that he was
from Massachusetts.
Il am glad Mr.. Ames said he was from
Massachusetts" replied Gov. Sanders.
for it gives me the opportunity to re-
mark that the journey from Massachu-
setts to New Orleans is very short and
that we will be glad to see the people OF
that state in our city"
"Some of my ascendants have made the
trip replied Mr.. Ames with a twinkle
in his eve and there was general
laugh throughout the room.
1--WE will welcome Mr.. Butler Ames 70
New Orleans as gladly as We will well
come any other citizen OF the United
States" said Speaker Dupre of the Louis
lana house.
Mayor Behrman Speaks.
Mayor Behrman of New Orleans told oe
the inception several years ago OF the
idea OF holding an exposition in New Or
leans in honor of the Panama canal
opening. He said that a committee had
been appointed to push this project at the
time and that il had existed until
month or two ago, when the exposition
company was regularly formed.
Lieut.. Gov. Paul NJ Lambremont OF
Louisiana and II. Garland Dupre. speaker
of the Louisiana house. made brief ad-
dresses to the committee as did Col.
T. P. Thompson, who originated the idea
Of holding an exposition in New Orleans
at the time of the canal completion.
Judge w. NJ. Wimbish. representing tho
chamber of commerce of Atlanta, Ga,
and Mayor Thompson Of Chattanooga.
Tenn, urged that the exposition be held
at New Orleans.
They declared that the country owed ft
to the south to give this opportunity to
the people to visit the south and observe
the great work OF development which has
taken place since war times
Boston Exposition Urged.
James Monroe OF Boston was given a
hearing before the committee in the in
terests of the proposed municipal govern
ment exposition in Boston In 1915. He
said all he asked was that the govern
ment should ask the foreign nations to
send exhibits to that exposition when 1T
sent invitations to them to take part In
Continued on Second Pagc)