New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-10-06
MORE FABIAN TACTICS.
ALL THE COMMITTEES WAITING ON ONE
ANOTHER.
40 FINANCIAL PLAN ANNOUNCED FOR THE
WORLDS FAIR-MANY RUMoRs, BUT
NO OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

NJ OfFlllAB
The situation OF affairs in connection with tho
Worlds Fair project Is somewhat peculiar owing to
the reticence Of the Executive Committee Of the Com
mittee Finance to the progress 1t has made In
the preparation OF a financial plan. For about seven
weeks this committee has boen holding seTni-weekS
meetings Prior to the meeting Of last Tuesday there
had been many complaints about tho delay OF me
committee In reaching conclusion, and at the meet
ngs Of the Committee Site and buildings this dis
satisfaction took shape In the form Of resolutions eA
pressing tho belief that the Finance Committee should
be called upon 10 report its progress so that the oer
committees might know whether they would De war
rsnted In proceeding actively with their work.
After Tuesdays meeting 1t announced that on
the following Friday special meeting of the Execu-
tive Committee Of the Committee on Finance would Dc
held put the finishing touches upon report TO DC
made 10 the full Committee Finance noxt Tuesday
As 1t had been announced at least two weeks before
this that the Executive Committee had pracucaiy
adopted financial plsn which had been printed ana
distributed, 1t supposed that this report "ouiu
embrace the financial scheme previously adopted Inc
other committees 50 understood the situation, ana
when. after Fridays special meeting, the members OF
the Executive Committee would not deny the report
that the plan was ready for submission the other
committeeman and the public believed that the plan
TO be promulgated. The published announcement
yesterday upon the authority OF a member OF the
General Committee Finance that the Executive
Committee had decided upon any plan at all, ana
would merely submit an explanatory report to that
effect next Tuesdays meeting of the Committee on
Finance created something like CONSERVATION among
the other committees, although it was not entireH
credited notwths standing its semtOiical character
The declaration made late Friday that a
plan had been adopted for presentation, encouraged
the other committees 1t agreed that this action
would remove the last obstacle to New-forks claim
to The Exposition and that the work would 90 on
with rapdity.
The statement made yesterday that no plan had
been adopted and that therefore, there was none 10
submit on Tuesday, did much TO chill enthusiasm
among the projectors OF the scheme This statement
set forth that the chief reason for the Executive
Committees failure TO devise plan was lack oil
definite knowledge OF what proposed to be done
by the other committees, and that it could not pass
calculations I'm the absence of exact and detailed III
formation. None Of the plans submitted TO tne COM
mtiee is said found favor, because OF Deficiencies
in some cases due to an ndefhite knowledge as I"
the cost Of site as well OF the necessary buildings
The committee, II is said, consulted eminent cOuh-
sell and has prepared its forthcoming report ulder
legal advice. The published announcement quotes
a member of the committee as saying that the waving
policy adopted in regard 10 financial Affairs was the
only common sense manner OF procedure possible
that the Executive Committee had had no foundation
work upon, beyond the public prociamatlons ihai
New York was the only place for the Fair ana must
have IT, As matter Of fact, the authority Qlo'ed
declared the Executive Committee had no Information
Of ANY kind work upon. 1t was practically called
upon devise a plan for something mai 1t had not
been permitted know anything about. II was OF
great importance b the committee u Ano" "hether
il was to be called upon 10 deVleo
plan for Exposition to cost $5,OO0OOO or one TO
cost $50 900 600 1t not the duty OF the com
mittee 10 say how much the Fair should cost but 10
devise Of raising an amount tor land anu puiid
ings to be aScersned by the other committees.
Then, The story went on, even the question OF
site had not been finally decided II meant much
whether the site 10 be free OF expense in one
of the city parks should be acquired by the pur
chase Of private property. In the one case the build
ings only would have be provided for, but In the
other It would involve eStimated expenditure for
land alone Of nearly S5O,OO0,000. The committee
dd not believe that the CITY could accomplish
much or that private individuals would go into
scheme Of such magnitude. Then again, the COM
mitee had no information AZ TO whether there were
TO be ten buildings or d hundred, whether they
10 DO cheap expensive, temporary or permanent
No direct expenditure had yet been called for for
any purpose. 1t easy enough 10 outline plans for
fairs Of a hypothetical character, but the members
Of The Executive Committee were business men who
wanted to know just what was desired, and who
would not be capable Of noundering about In
certainty.
il was said that in declining to dept a financial
plan the Executive Committee would not display
lack Of interest in the enterprise. and that its re-
port would recommend the raising of guarantee
fund Of 81 900 TO show that tho people Of tho
city In earnest in wishing to have the Ex-
position held here. II was also said that member
Of he Executive Committee had declared that If the
other committees would say Just how much money
was needed, TIE amount called for would be quickly
provided although Il not believed thar the city
would back the enterprise at cost Of $50 100000 10
Itself FOR additional park area, or that private
citizens would contribute a big sum.
The alleged facts set forth above were shown yes
terday 10 all the members Of tho Executive Finance
Committee IN the city. Not would talk upon
the subject in any way nor would deny
that the statements were true Each and every mcm
Der of the committee refused to questions
corning the scope Of the report 10 be submitted, AMI
all declined say whether the report would BE- made
public.
william Stcinway was the only member of the full
Committee Finance who would express any opinion
10 the truth Of the report lie declared his belief
that It not true although he admitted that he
had not watched the condition Of things closely OF
late Mr.. Steinway hoped there would be no delay
such indicated as likely 10 follow, and that
definite plan would be submitted. Further de
lay he thought would Ieopardze the enterprise sen
Ously.
report in circulation yesterday, to the effect
that the stand alleged to have been taken by the FIX.
ecutive Finance Committee In deciding not submit
plan the result OF friction between It and the
full committee, caused By the delay the part of
the former Members OF the full committee, it was
said had urged repeatedly that some action be taken,
even If it were necessary to adopt two OF pro
visional plans. either of which could afterwad be
adopted I'm accordance with the requirements as de
ermincd after the cost OF the site had been settled
and the Committee on site and buildings has passed
Two or more resolutions ASKING the Executive Finance
Committee for information to how much money
could be expended for site and for the buildings.
The site and Buildings Committee commended
that it could not obtain plans for buildings until Is
should be known how much they 10 cost and
their requests for Information on this point have never
been satisfactorily answered. IL was also mmOred
yesterday that there lack Of harmony among
members OF the Executive Finance Committee them
selves caused by rivalry In the for the credit
OF having originated the scheme to be adopted.
When these rumOrs were brought 10 the attention
OF the committeeman they regarded seriously,