New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-21
MONEY FOR THE BIG FAIR.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETS AND
ORGANIZES
ENTHUSIASM AMONG THE BANKERS AND MER-
CHANTs-JESSE sELIGMAN PROPOSES A PLAN
WHICH MANY REGARD WITH FAVOR
NO DOUBT THE FUNDS WILL

BE PROVIDED.

WHICH MANY REGARD WITH FAVOR
NO DOUBT THE FUNDS WILL
BE PROVIDED.
Nearly all of tie well-known financiers appointed
by Mayor Grant to serve on the Finance Com
mttee of the Worlds Fair to be held in this
city in 1892 were present at the first meeting OF
that committee Yesterday The Governors Room
in the City Hall has held many assemblages OF
celebrated men. but probably never before was
there gathered there company representing in
their individual possessions great an amount OF
wealth. That. all but Sin Of the members should
attend the first committee meeting was scarcely
hoyed for, and the fact that many were present
augurs well at The outset for the success of the
great project Financiers gathered together to
discuss ways and means usually form as
semblage too conservative for display OF much
enthusiasm. vet the interest manifested vest riay
by the members Of the Finance Committee fell
little short of being enthusiastic.
jay Gould was the first committeeman 10 arrive.
lie was fifteen minutes ahead of time and he
amused himself for awhile walking about the
with his hands clasped behind him, in
specting the portraits the walls. Then other
members came in rapidly. until at 3 80 o'clock
all who expected and more, had arrived.
Mayor Grant came in Just on time, and went az
AN IMPORTANT NAME OMITTED BY MISTAKE.
II afforded HIM great pleasure, the Mayor said,
to perform the duty imposed upon him by tho
General Committee, of calling TO order dis
tingushed a company of gentlemen as composed
the Finance Committee He wished at the outset,
he said, 10 explain that the name of gentleman
with whom he was not personally acquainted but
whom he knew great linancier, had been
omitted from the list of members of the Finance
Committee by mistake. He referred to j. Pier
pOnt Morgan, whose name was the Mayors
original list, but had been omitted by the type
writing cOpyist The Mayor hoped that after the
committee had organized it would take such action
as seemed fitting under the circumstances. lie
sincerely regretted the embarrassing error which,
he said, might be corrected by unanimously elect
ing Mr. Morgan member of the committee.
At the Mayors request Secretary Spier called
the roll of the committee. and the following men,
bers answered to the call OF their names: William
L. Bull, Calvin 5. Bricc, August Belmont, Samuel
ID. Babcocl, Robert Dunlap. jay Gould. John IL.
lnman. Morris H. Jesup. Eugene Kelly Frederick
4. Kurschecdt, John McKessOn Oswald Often
dorfer, William Rockefeller, Charles s. Smith.
William Steinway, J. Edward Simmons, Jesse
Seligman, Henry b. Hyde and Herman Oelrichs
The absentees Messrs Huntington, Have
The Mayor said that he had received telegram
from Cornelius Vanderbilt expressing regret at
being unable TO attend the first meeting Of the
committee, and promising to he present at its
future sessions The other absentees, who were
out of the city, had also sent regrets
Mr. Belmont moved that j. Pierpont Morgan he
unanimously elected a member of the committee,
and there was unanimous chorus of yeas
when the Mayor called for the vote Nominations
for permanent chairman being in order, Mr.. Gould
nominated Mr.. Morgan, but AT the same moment
Mr.. Belmont arose and named Samuel ID. Rabcock.
The Mayor saw and heard Mr. Belmont, but
neither saw nor heard Mr. Gould, apparently, for
he at proceeded to put the question on Mr..
Babcocks nomination. Mr.. Gould managed to
say Withdraw Mr.. Morgans name' and the
vote on Mr.. BabcOclI's nomination proceeded. As
all voted yea" the Mayor congratulated Mr.
Babcocll on his election, and that gentleman took
the chair
ACCEPTING THE HONOR WITH THANKS.
Mr.. Babcock said that he was surprised at tho
undeserved LOnOr that had been bestowed upon
him. of presiding over the deliberations of such
body Of men, but he felt it TO be his duty
TO accept, which he did, thankfully. He hoped
that the work of the committee would be accom-
plish,d with the degree of harmony which
characterized the deliberations of the recent
Centennial Committee on Plan and Scope, on
which he had had the honor to serve with Mayor
Grant and ex-MayOr Hewitt, and on which there
had never been a divided vote
There was only nomination for the office
of treasurer, that of j. Edward Simmons who WAS
named by Charles S. Smith. president of the
Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Smmonss election
was unanimous. Mr.. Smith said that the office
of secretary of the committee was one of extreme
importance, and that it would be necessary TO
have the place filed by a competent salaried
official He moved that George S. Wilson, secre-
tary of the Chamber of Commerce, be elected 10
the position. Mr. Wilson had been secretary os
the Chamber of Commerce for great many years
Mr. Smith said, and was in every way qualified
for the proposed office.
Mr.. Belmont SAID that he realized that the Office
of secretary of the committee was one of tho
greatest importance, and for that reason he hoped
there would not be too much haste in filling it.
1t was Mr.. Belmont's opinion that an executive
committee should be appointed, to which should
be left the selection of "A secretary.
AN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE CHOSEN
Mr. Simmons thought secretary should be
chosen at once. The duties of the place would be
extremely onerous, and as Mr.. Wilson had been
secretary of the Chamber of Commerce for SO
many years there could be question
as to his ability. Mr. Smith conversed
in whispers with Mr.. Belmont for moment, and
then Mr.. Smith withdrew his motion, whereupon
Mr.. Belmont moved that executive committee
of five members be named by the chairman. to
whom should be referred, among other things,
the selection Of IA permanent secretary. The chair
man named Messrs. Morgan, Belmont, Vanderbilt,
| Smith and Inman, and vote being taken coll
lectively, they were unanimously elected the
result calling forth n generous round OF applause.
1t was also voted that tIe chairman and treasurer
| of the Finance Committee be made members OF
| the Executive Committee
| PLAN SUBMITTED BY MR. SELIGMAN
Mr. Seligman arose to say that, as the work OF