New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-12
lBpeeial Correspondents Of the Republican
FROM WASHINGTON.

EHUM wASH1VCfXVNs
The Centennial - Its Management-suc.
cess of the BaildinG, but Probable
Failure Of Attendance en Account Of
RxsaFtioQs Bite. r
sc. WAsHuGToN,i iMay 8. 1876.
Hon. William D. Kelley. chairman Of the
House Committee ON the Centennial Cele-
bretion in the last Congress, and member of
the saus committee IN the present House,
says that though he has been friend of
the enterprise from the frat, working for it
night and day, he Sears' ii will 10 failure.
The determination "a the part Of tho man
ayers to close the exhibition ON Sunday, he
saye, practically excludes from participa-
ton half million, more or less. of the work.
ing people of Philadelphia and adjoining
cities, who can not, in addition to the fifty
cents admission fee, afford to give the price
Of days work for each visit to the exhibi-
ton.
Exhibitors and others having business
with tho enterprise who have visited this
city on their way from Philadelphia, report
the work of mere. construction . success,
but say they fear failure in the matter Of
attendance, caused mainly by petty extor-
tion prscticed by the centennial managers,
and Philsdelphia hotel keepers and trades
people.
for example, tho agent of the State of
Illipois had occasion to lay sams gas pipe
through . portion Of the centennial grounds
to his headquarters. He purchased the
pipe and put it down at the expense Of the
State of Illinois, and in accordance with
the directions OF the centennial engineer in
charge, paying all the expense therefor.
What was his surprise, therefore, to re-
ceive. few days afterwards, bill from
the exhibition managers for not only put
ting down. but for the pipe likewise. An
explanation being required, he wasa in
formed that the centennial management had
the privilege of putting down all gas pipe
in the grounds, and they charged for. all
that was put down, so much per foot,
whether the exhibitors furnished their own
material and lsbor or not. The commission
must have its royalty on every foot of pipe
in the grounds whether put down at it's
own expense or st the expense of exhibi-
tors. At last accounts the matter was not
settled, but suppose that Illinois will
have to pay for its gas pipe twice over, and
perhaps twice or thrice tor other little mat
ters. Many other similar petty acts of ex-
tortion are reported BY parties passing
through this city. The hotels are putting
their prices up instead of down, and rooms
in private houses that formerly rented for
$40 per month are now held at that figure
per week. t. -
In some things the centennial manage
went is certainly liberal enough. Free
tickets are furnished in abund ance to not
only Congressman and journalists, but even
to claim agents, lobbyists and those hang
ers-on to journalism, the free lunch masti-
Gators.
A smaller number Of free tickets; less ex.
tortion and some arrangement by which
the poor laborers and mechanics could be
admitted would certainly be IN order 'in
this our centennial year" A. A-Philadelphia
mechanic who manages to support his fam
lily on Sl2 per week must, in effect, pay, ac-
cording to Judge Kelley, g. SO for each
visit to this exhibition of tho industry of
all nations" To mechanics residing 100
miles from Philadelphia visit is wholly
out Of the question.
An imperative notice has been served
upon correspondents here by Pennsylva-
mia newspaper that they must not send
anything but Mandatory reports regarding
the centennial, upon the terrible pain Of
being stigmatized - "blackmailers." l
shall, however, report statements of trust.
worthy persons as hear them, threats Of
the centennial organs 30 the contrary not
withstanding. d. D. c.