Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-23
A Permanent Federal Exhibit.

All visitors to the late Sesquicen-
fennial Exhibition at Philadelphia
were impressed by the displays rep
resenting the activities Of the Gov
eminent of the United States. In the
large Transportation Building" which
Ranked the grounds on the south,
there was shown picture Of what
the Federal administration is doing
for the benefit of the people Of this
country, constituting a vivid mani
festation of beneficent and helpful
enterprise. While in some respects
the big show, organized for the cele-
bration of the century and a half Of
American independence, was a dis
appointment, the Government section
was a revelation to most Of those who
visited it,
Now it is announced that eight OF
the Government departments, the
Coast Guard. the Shipping Board and
the National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics have been given the high
est award, the grand prize, for their
exhibits at the Sesqui. The eight de-
partments are those of State, War,
Treasury, Post Office, Navy. Interior,
Agriculture and Commerce. A ninth
department, that Of Labor, received q
medal Of honor. The Department Of
Justice had no exhibit.
Official Washington has been rep
resented at the successive world
fairs held in this country for many
years. and each time the showings
have won praise. and in numerous
instances the highest honors, as at
the late show in Philadelphia. And
each time the suggestion has been
made that the Federal exhibits should
be kept intact and preserved here in
Washington for the education and en-.
lghtenment Of the great numbers who
visit the Capital between these fairs
or exposttions. Fifty years ago this
was proposed regarding the display
made by the Government at the Cen.
tennial, the suggestion being advanced
IN The Star that 1t be transferred to
washington and made into the M.
cieus OF q national museum,
Much time and labor and money
are spent upon the preparation and
assemblage Of these showings Of the
Governments work at the big fairs.
Some Of the exhibits are later stored
away and some are scrapped. OF
course, many of them are OF a perma.
nent nature, but between the fairs
they are not available for public In
spection, for lack of a suitable snaca
IN this city in which to display them
1t would be greatly to the ad,aD.
tage OF the public, greatly to the edu.
cational value Of these occasional ex.
hioitions, they could be assembled
mere as q permanent exposition of
the Governments work and endeavors
for the benefit Of the people. A single
building should be erected at a con.
Venient point, where these expressions
or public service works could ha
shown. 1t would draw great numbers
OF visitors. It would be one NJ +ba
FNAAAeS VI between the
people and the Government. Tens of
thousands Of tourists come here an.
nually, some for only a few hours
some for days. They want TO see
all that is possible Of the nuh,,c
works while here. At present thew
must go visiting around to a large
number Of places to gain an impress.
sion OF the activities of the Fed.
eral service, and in some cases
they interrupt the routine of the Of
ices and are hurried through. SO that
they fail to gain an adequate concept
of what is doing and what has been
done
The Government can well afford 70
establish itself in exposition form at
the Capital. The money required for
the initial cost Of the exposition would
be well spent and would bring a large
return in better Understanding OF
what the United States is doing for
the people.