The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-06-25
WORLD EXPOSITION
FAVORED BY BLAND

Hearty idorsement OF the proposal
to establish in the District OF Column
bia a permanent international exposi-
ton was given today by the House
Committee on Industrial Arts and Elk
positions.
Chairman Oscar E. Bland of Indiana
urged that steps be taken to speed up
action on the plan, pointing out that
several local propositions of a similar
order are already being considered.
Congressman Charles r. Davis of
Minnesota, who introduced in the
House a bill establishing the exposi-
ton and creating a commission to
select a site and put over the PROPOSE
ton, appeared before the committee
in behalf Of his bill
Mr.. Davis amended his bill so as to
make it read permanent international
exposition OF the United States o.
America" instead OF a temporary ey-
position. He also amended the bill So
as to locate the exposition within TIE
District Of Columbia or what was
originally the District. instead of in
or near the District of Columbia" as
provided in the original bill.
Not Local AnaIr.
We do not w8nt a local or Wash
ington affair Of this, but a forty-eight
State affair" Mr.. David told the com
mlttee. We want TO keep it out r
politics, out OF sctionalism, and out
OF the hands OF a local clique"
Mr.. Davis outlined the plan after
this fashion:
A site will be procured and divided
INTO small tracts OF a few acres each
tract will be furnished to each STATE
or foreign country to erect upon Il
a building according TO certain IN
form rules and regulations to be laid
down by the commission in charge.
A state or a nation may spend
millions on their building. if they
edsire," Mr.. Davis said. but they
would be responsible for its main
tenance.
England would no doubt want TO
put up S5,o0o,0OO buildingg. France.
Italy, and the other nations would
follow"
Mr. Davis called the committees
attention TO a tract OF 500 acres of
land the Government now owns
""ross the Potomac River. near the
Department Of Agriculture expert
III, NJ stanton.
Il do not wish to prejudice the
to Congress. but I merely wish TO
show that we already have land suf-
ficient for the project and that the
buildings will he OF no expense TO
this Government.
FavOrs Cutting sum.
ct is my opinion that the 500. 900
appropriation carried in the bill is
too large. / believe that half that
sum would be ample. since the only
e. pense TO the Government would be
clerical expense"
Chairman Bland announced that Cot
c. s. Ridley. OF the War Departments
public buildings and grounds division.
is heartily in favor Of the proposal.
and has agreed TO cooperate in every
way possible and with no expense.
A representative from ColoneyI Rid
ley's office appeared before the com
mittee and outlined a plan which
seemed to meet with favor. He pro-
posed that the exposition be located
on the big tract being reclaimed in
the vicinity Of Anacostia fats.
The tract will be one OF the largest
and mos, beautiful park sites In the
world" the engineer told the COM
mittec.
1t is on the river and is just two
miles from the Capitol. In reclaim
ing it, We have followed a general
plan that will permit Of its permanent
use as an exposition site
Chairman Bland stated that John
Barrett. director az the Fan-AmeriCan
Union. had shown great interest IN
the proposed exposition. and asked for
the opportunIty TO appear before the
committee.
Special Session.
The committee voted to hold = sPe-
cial session on Wednesday next at
which time Mr.. Barrett VIII tell OF
the work Of the union and the pros
poets for getting the support Of the
South American nations for the pro-
posed exposition.
Mr.. Barrett has had considerable
experience in matters OF this kind. and
il is important that we get the sd-
vantage Of IT," Mr.. Bland said
Just at this time the United States
can do nothing that will be more i'm
poTtant than creating 4 friendly feel
ing with South American countries"
Congressman Lanhsm of Texas told
the committee that his State would
be eager to get into the exposition