The New York herald., 1876-10-18
THE EXHIBITION.

THE EXHIBITION.
HOW THE COMMISSION HAVE BUSGLED THE
AwARDs-Two WEEKS AFTER THE ANNOUNCE
MENT AND NOT REPORT EEADY-TuE COM
MISSION ASSISTING TO COVER THE TRACKS OF
DISHONEST ExHIBIToRs-How THE coMMIs-
SION HAVE IGNORED THE AWARD SYSTEM.
PHILADELPHIA, Oct. ID, 1874
The causes oil the singular conduct OF the Ccntcn.
nial Commission in the matter the awards arclike
the ways OF Providcnce-pasI finding out II now
ranspires that the announcement OF the awards on
Wednesday, two weeks ago. at the memorable cere-
monies in Judges Hall. where the band played "St
Patrcx's Day in the Morning. and "one-cyed Reilly'
N national airs. were nothing more than a farce Not
snly the reports which should have accompanied
Me awards not ready nj that timc but measures
hao been taken to get them ready and tho Commission
have not even yet revised them all prepared them
Tor the printer. Ths unreasonable delay has gwen
Just cause OF complaint 10 tho exhibitors, and
has enabled persons to procure advance copies
OF their reports by corrupt means Is charged As
announced in a previous letter, these dishonest ex-
hibitors have not scruplcd make public that which
ihcy could not have procured, except by bribery The
Commission Indignantly declared, after the appearance
Sf this statement In the HERALD, that they wero
GOING INVESTIGATE
me matter md punish those engaged in this trading in
Me records Of tho Commission The latest action of
these officials however, TO adopt ingenious mode
OF covering the tracks OF these offenders They have
resolved that and after to-day all secresy shall be
removed from the reports. and that exhibitors
obtain copies of the reports upon their goods upon
hing their applications.
RESULT
OF this will be just what those who have dishonesty
procured their reports much DESIRE Applications
for copies OF the reports have piled that It
Will be several days AZ least before the clerks
On Tuesday morning those who have through money
or favor procured tho judges reports in which they
are interested will advertise them IN the press and
otherwise turn them to business account
Meanwhile the honest exhibitors who have chosen
TO got their papers the proper way VIII have TO wait
Tor theirs until the red tape procedure OF the Comms
sion is gone through with. Last week | saw IN tho
hands OF gentleman In no way connected with the
Comm ssion the report upon an exhibit II was pro-
cured '.avori' for the exhibitor and given TO
person who had no right 10 II by Commissioner
His Is M illustration Of the favorilsm that prevails
Whic II continues exhibitors have just ground OF
plaint
OFFICIAL BuxGLSG
Another instance OF the bungiing OF the Commission
Ii shown IN their action concerning the form Ia which
the reports 10 be issued II resolved tow
days ago that they should be copied from the manu-
script under ccrcaton by the President and Sccrc-
ary Of the Commission that the judges OF the group
had approved such report. Then the declaration was
TO be signed by the judge who had the report
and by his colleagues OF the group who had approved
IT, THIS IN accordance with the system or lndt-
viduai reports, ana proper enough, although Il
came at tho eleventh hour Thousands Of these bank
forms were printed.
Tho next day u certain Commissioner, who had not
been at tho previous asked and told
what was done Ho did not approve OF IT, and at the
next meeting the wholc subject reconsdered and
another form adopted which entirely ignores the
judges and their reports individuals, and in fact,
the whole plan under which II was promised the
hibltors and the public the awards would be made The
shape IN which the reports will be given 10 tho cx-
hiDitors, therefore, unless the Commission again
United States Centennial Commission has approved
such and such n report The name OF the fudge who
wrote II Is not gwen amt the value Of the report
trcy destroyed. asked an intelligent exhibitor what
be thought Of THIS arrangement, or arrangement,
sather.
TnR WHOLE SYSTEM UPSET.
He answered very cmphatically lit Is a shameful
preach or fath on the part or the who
promised US report upon our goods written by an
Expert, man whose opinion IS valuable. l consider
myself swndled- Instead OF giving me the written
ltaemcnt OF practical. scientific man. whose opinion
respect they give me n few words signed by the
President ani Secretary OF the Centennial Commits
Hon-a worthless picce OF paper. What do or
What do the public care what the Commission-who
may know nothing about the mattcr-think OF my
porcelain exhbity The COMMISSIONS from Kalama-
may know all about buffalo hide prairie grass,
.ut he don't know much about pate pate or
hience. What like james l.. Claghorn has TO
NY OF my goods Is valuable TO me. but what a name
and unknown body OF men say Is worth
ess The very of Mr. Beckwith's system Of
wards the report upon every exhibit written by
.wc known expert perfectly competent and approved
~ his colleagues OF the same group. This is AN ad
nirablc thing and this IS what We were promised.
iuch opinions arc valuable But when tho Commits
ZION suppresses tho name OF the whose judgment
prospect and the world respects regarding the
OF my display, u swindes me ot what IL had
tractod 10 give Who for anonym nous
report upon any exhibits approved by General
Hawley aud Secretary Campbell, one good soldier
and politician and tho other an unknown school
teachcr-a nobody
COMMISSION ITSELF.
The Commission officially announced the system OF
Awards 10 be noncompentivc, bur based on reports
Erten by competent authorities they TO sign these
reports and to be personally responsible ior them.
That was Mr. Beckwith's system in u nutshell How
much better Is that than OF opinions however
eulogistic, from namcicss body OF men--s comms-
SION vi nobodess