Oregon's Lobbyists Descend on Olympia for the Lewis and Clark Fair

The Oregon legislature has passed the bill appropriating $500,000 for the 1905 Lewis and Clark fair. That body doesn't care how it wastes the taxpayers' money.

The strongest argument that the Portland Oregonian makes for the Lewis and Clark fair is that it will help to develop Oriental trade, and that the entire Pacific Coast will profit thereby. That paper is very anxious to have this state appropriate one hundred thousand dollars for the fair. At the same time it most bitterly opposed the proposition to remove the government transport service from San Francisco to Seattle. It has already predicted failure for Jim Hill's new line from Seattle to the Orient to be equipped with the largest and finest steamships on the Pacific Coast. Portland plays the part of a jealous rival and shows herself the enemy of Puget Sound upon every possible occasion.

The Oregon legislature on Monday passed a resolution to the effect that an appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars is not more than half enough for the State of Washington to make for the Lewis and Clark fair, and accordingly appointed a committee to visit Olympia and urge our legislature to donate two hundred thousand, at least, and as much more as they can be worked for. This outfit of Webfoot lobbyists is now camping at Olympia and exerting every effort in behalf of the measure; but are finding considerable opposition there, as many of the members believe such an expenditure would be a foolish waste of funds.

The veteran senator from Kittitas, J. P. Sharp, is unalterably opposed to an appropriation for the Lewis and Clark fair. The senator thinks that the time has passed in this state for indiscriminate and free distribution of funds in this way. The old war horse is one of the most influential members of the legislature, and if he fights it he will probably defeat the measure.