New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-05
AT ODDS WITH Mr.. FISH.
THE CENTENNIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE OBJ
JECT1HG TO HIS COURSE.
SEVERELY BLAMED FOR REFUSING TO HANp IN
A REPORT FRoM THE ENTERTAINMENT
COMMITTEE UNTIL CERTAIN TICKETS
ARE PAID FoR.

The most serious OF ell Of the many dissensions
among Centennial Celebration committeeman has arisen
the refusal OF Stuyvesan Fish. chairman Of tho
Entertainment Committee, 20 render an accounting Of
the iunds Of hts committee to Brayton Ives chairman
OF the Finance Committee, until certain ball ana
quot tickets purchased by Elbridge T. Gerry, chairman
Of the Executive Committee, on behalf OF othsr
mlttecs, have been paid for. II will be remembered
that fortnight ago the Committee Plan and scope
adopted resolution thaty the ohaIrmen Of all com.
mttres should at once turn over the funds In their
possession to General Louis Fitzgerald, the treasurer
and should mako full financial report 10 Brayton
Ives All of the committees have complied with this
resolution as far their accounts have been settled
up excepting the Entertainment Committee, hom
which no report OF any kind has been received.
Instead OF turning over funds to Treasurer Fifz-
gerald Mr. Fish presented 10 him claim for $1,000
for tickets purchased from the Entertainment Com.
mttee, which amount General Fitzgerald paid. An
other demand for $4,000 then made by Mr. Fish.
on account Of tickets, and the was refused aftT
consultation between General Fitzgerald and Mr. Ives.
Mr.. Fish claimed that the money due IN the En-
tertanment Committee and should DO paid prior 10 all
other claims and before report could he expected.
Mr. Ives called a meeting Of the Finance Committee,
which was held on Monday, all OF the members being
present. Mr. Ives laid before the meeting nectlia'
receipt upon which Mr.. Fish based his claim for
$40, 900. Tho receipt read as follows:
Received from the Entertainment COMMITTEES 1000
tickets which, al $40 each, amount 10 $4,000 C30O
to 1000 Incl This receipt is given In pursuance Of
rSsoq'1n passed By the Committee on Plan and Sop
Entertainment to be credited By the Finance Com
mtee to It's account with the Entertainmcnt Com
mtteN f. T. GERRY,
April 8, 80. Chairman Executive Committee.
After discussing the claim Of Mr.. Fish the Finance
Committee passed three resolutions. One OF these
that " the receipt is not a proper voucher upon
which 10 pay money" Another sustained Mr.. Ives
in refusing 10 receive the receipt. and dhecisd Mr..
Ives and General Fitzgerald not to pay out any money
except upon bills rendered by the persons who were
to receive the money such bills to be approved BY
tho chairman OF tho committee which authorized the
indebtedness The third resolution that the chair
man Of the Entertainment Committee be requested
to furnish at proper vouchers for the a. 500 he
had already received from the treasurer. Copies Of
the resolutions wero sent to Mr.. Gerry, who in turn
sent them to Mr. Fish
Mr. Gerry's position Is unaSsailabie He supposed,
the other committeeman did, that the Entertain
ment Committee would turn the receipt over to the
treasurer among its balances. one Of the members
~ tho Finance Committee said yesterday that Mr..
Fish's stand pTopostcrous, and that his demands
ridiculous. unbusineSsllke aad Irregular. The
same gentleman said that no imputatLon was. cast
upon Mr. Fish's honesty and integrity. II was sup
posed that no merely wished to make good showing
for his committee before rendering hnal report Mr.
Ives said yesterday that Il perfectly proper for
Mr.. Gerry 10 give such receipt, which merely meant
that Mr. Fish should be credited with 10000. Mr
Ives added that he perfectly willing TO credit the
Entertainment Committee with S1o coo, the receipt
called for, but that that different nom paying
out 10000 in cash without vouchers to show for IL.
Mr. Fish talked freely about the matter. In sub
stance hc said
Tho Entertainment Committee received no public
funds al all when money was needed 10 carry on
work nc furnished H. We had ball and banquet
tickets 10 sell and sold them Mr.. Gerry, In
the case hand, ordered 1000 tickets. We sold
them 10 him just a. did single tickets 10 ndi-
vidualS, for the regular cash price. Now We want
the money for those tickets. The Entertainment
Committee Is expected IN account for the money
for the tickets II sold. How can IL account for money
IL has not received when | set the money due.
viii mako a full report Of the finances OF the EnteT-
tainment Committee but cannot do 50 until this
claim is afiuSted.'
Tho dispute rests at this point and It ia not I'M
likely that measures will be taken by the Finance
Committee to compel accounting by the Committee
on Entertainment Considerable fooling has boon
aroused and bitterness has been engendeied
than over tho famous quarrel between Mr. Fish AID
Ward McAIsnr