Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-10-22
THE WORLDS FAIR.
LECTURE ON ExTRAVAGANcE
FROM SECRETARY WINDOW,
The Salaries of tho Principal Officers
of tho Exposition Too Lsrge-The
Necessity for Care.
tBy telegraph to tho DIspasch.l

CHICAGO, October 21.-An afternoon
paper publishes an abstract of letter
received by President Palmer of the
National Worlds Columbian Commits
sion from Secretary Window in regard
to the expenses Of the commission. The
Secretary first states that OF the $780,
900 appropriated, 100000 must be
used in the construction OF a Govern
ment building, leaving 81, for
other expenses. For the fiscal year end
ing June 80, 1891, there is appropriated
Jointly $500, 900 for the expenses of the
commission and the use OF the Govern
ment Board of Control. The Govern
ment Board has estimated that it will
need $50. 900, leaving $4,000 for the
use OF the commission.
The Secretary then shows that in
salaries for officers and other expenses
the commission has disposed Of $4,000
OF this $3.50. 900, and that the expenses
OF the meetings OF the Executive Com
mittee now in session and OF the meet
ing of the commission to be held on
November 10th will bring the total up
10 $40, 900. leaving only $40, 900 to run
the commission on from that date till
June 80, 1891.
Continuing, the Secretary says: "In
consideration of the foregoing showing
of expenses I have hesitated as to the
approval OF the resolutions of the COM
mission in fixing the salaries OF its Off
GERS as described in Articles XIV. and
XVI. of your bylaws. The act Of
April %. 1890, referred to makes
the Secretary Of the Treasury
and your commission jointly re-
sponsible for the proper and reasonable
expenditure OF the sum appropriated by
Congress for the furtherance of the pro-
visions of the act 1t does even more
than that, for it imposes upon the Secre-
tary the necessity OF exercising proper
discretion in approving the compensa-
ton fixed by your commission for its
officers. 1t 10 fair to presume that Con-
gress intended by this aforementioned
provision of law to prevent the giving of
what might be termed unreasonable COM
pensation to any of the officers Of the com
mission. But in arriving at this determi-
nation the Secretary OF the Treasury must
take into consideration the operations
OF this representative body OF men. 1t
appears from your records, as before
stated, that the commission has unani-
mously agreed that the officers named
shall be paid the compensation stated.
president, $4,000; secretary, SO, 600 ;
director general, Sl5, 600; vice-chairman
of the Executive Committee, $4,000 /;
employees in the Offices of the secretary
and director general, Sl0,OOO.)
"If were to give my individual
opinion on this subject uninfiuenced by
the acts OF your commission | would not
hesitate to decide that the amount
named by your commission for salaries
for its principal officers is greater than
that probably contemplated by Con-
gress in estimating the amount necessary
to carry out the provisions of the act
The amount of money already expended
and the expenditures IN contemplation
by our commission prior to January
LIST next contemplate 50 large an amount
that it presents an additional reason
why l should not approve the compen-
sstlon named were L alone responsible
for the expenditures. You will observe
that your salary list for the years 1891,
'92, and 1913 will, without further in
crease of employees, amount to one hun
dred and sixty thousand dollars, or
about one seventh of the entire amount
OF money, outside of the cost OF Gov
eminent buildings, which is fixed as the
limit OF expenditures growing out OF the
Exposition.
81 have grave doubts in view of the
facts herein stated, whether | ought not
TO return the resolution submitted by
your commission for revision as TO the
amount of compensation to be paid your
officers. On the other hand, dislike ex-
tremely to set up my own personal views
in opposition to those members OF the
commission who are more familiar with
the matter at issue than myself.
therefore reluctantly approve Articles XIV.
and XVI. OF your bill and beg leave to
suggest in this connection that great
care be taken IN authorizing further ex.
penditures, to the end that your com
mission may not create deficiency for
the ensuing fiscal year.
Respectfully yours,
[Signedl "WnL1AM WINDOW,
"Secretary."
Immediately after this communication
was read before the Executive Commit
tee, Commissioner Martindale offered q
resolution, which was adopted, declaring
that all standing committees be instruct
ed not to meet before the next session
of the commission unless directed by
the President. Five standing commit
tees had asked the Executive Committee
to meet, but none of them will be au'
thorized by the President.