Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-02-23
BILL FAvORS STATES
Provides for Report on Perma-
nent Exposition Idea.
LAND WOULD BE OONATEO|
Government Tracts Near Capital Fa-
vored for Project.
ACT Is FAvORABLY REP0RTED|
Foreign Nations Also Would Be In
vited to Exhibit, Making an
Argument for Peace.
LAND WOULD BE DONATED
ACT Is FAv0RABLY REPORTED

A commission to investigate. considp n
and report to Congress the expedienc VI
or having the national government set
aside tract of national lands in or nra n
Washington for the erection Of building
to be used for permanent exhibits of IN al
resources OF the states of the Union d
proposed as substitute by the Hous Il
committee on industrial arts and eNposl /.
tions for a bill before the committee pro j
viding for a permanent exhibit OF re-
sources OF the states OF the Union in or
near Washington.
The amendment proposed by tho com.
mittee strikes out all after the enactIn 4
clause of the original bill and substitute 81
the proposition for a commission. The
Secretary OF Agriculture and the chair !
men of the Senate and House committee
on industrial arts and expositions would
form the personnel of the commission.
Adequate Area Required.
size adequate to permit each state and
territory to construct, at its own expense
building I'm which it could install ex-
hibits Of natural, Industrial and educa :
tional resources. Government contribu-
tloll VI inc ldllu IL contemplated.
For conducting the investigation the
amendment proposes the expenditure of
$4,000. or as much thereof may be
Necessary.
The committee. in reporting TIL,
measure. gives emphatic Endorsement 10
the plan. AS a contribution to the besrf,i v
of Washington the state buildings Naull
he notable: advertisement Of statr r. :
sources. in educational value and an
argument for peace the exhibits worl'1
be important. in the opinion of the COM
mittee expressed in tho report.
For many years past. SAYS the -
port, 1.-THE various states Of THE III ii'
have been expanding large sums -.
money for the purpose or advertising 40
the outside world the advantages pos 4
sessed by each state over other seGtisn 4
of the country. and these eNpenditireS
and these efforts have been largely sup
plemented by appropriations Made 10y
railroads commercial organiza tons and
individuals. This advertising takes many
shapes. but in probably no other form OF
advertising does a state-through aPpro 4
priations made from the treasury--eN-
pend such large sums as in EXHIBITS made
OF its resources at the various state ma I
tional and International expositions
which are constantly being held i'm this
country and abroad.
Two Great Objections Cited.
There are two great objections to eK-
hibits OF this character. however. so Sc
rious that IL can well be doubted whether
a state receives from such sources an
adequate return for the moneys invested.
The first of these objections is that an
exposition ia temporary In character ard
the displays made there must be viewed,
II at all. within three. four or six months.
The second objection. Is that visitors 4"
expositions are there in q holiday MOOD
an, lie afi NJ af
exhibits illustrating the resources OF apy
particular community. But the rYactics
has so grown that 1t is doubtful whether
a state can refuse TO make an exhibit az
any national or international expositions
because to refuse to do SO would be TO
make that state conspicuous by Its ABB
sence.
1.-THE erection at the city of Washington.
in the District of Columbia. OF state build 4
ings within which to house completes
display OF the national wealth and re 1
sources Of the several states and terri
tories in education, manufacturing, agri-
culture and in the arts Is worthy OF con-
sideration. The erection OF these build
ings upon an appropriate site would add
much to the beauty Of the National Can
ital; II would stimulate a greater feelhI Il
Of patriotism in the federal government.
and would have a tendency to cement M
closer bonds the people OF the varlous|
states. 1t would furnish most complete
advertisement Of the resources of state.
located at a strategic point where II coul u
be viewed by thousands of visitors evervl
Year. What more appropriate exposition
idea than to display here. in permanent
manner. exhibits illustrative of the weaii al
OF the states in agriculture. forestry. min
ing manufacturing and the arts? Such an|
exhibit would be of great educauonalI
value to the people OF our country. and
it would prove an important factor in m
creasing trade, not alone with the several
states Of the Union, but with foreign ma
tons.