Omaha daily bee., 1891-01-18
THE WORLDS Fam.
Report OF tho Congressional SUBJ
Cnnmittep Presented.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 11.--Representativo
Gambler of Massachusetts, chairman OF the
select committee on the worlds fair today
presented to the house the report Of the sub
committee that went to Chicago to examine
into the condition Of matters there in rela-
tion TO the worlds fair The report says
that in the expenditure of public money the
powers assumed by the worlds Columbian
commission produced confusion as well as
caused unnecessary expenditure Of puplio
money which had been intended by congress
to pay the expenses OF the government
exhibit and not to pay excessive salaries to
officers of the commission. Provision the
report says, had been made to pay the presi-
dent, secretary and director general annual
salaries Of $4,000, $4,000 and sl5, 900 respcc-
lively and also 1000 to the "vice chairman
of the executive committee These salaries,
in the opinion of the committed are excessive
and should not be continued. Excessive
ex pense has also been incurred in the appoint
ment OF such n large number rs ll5
women ON the board Of lady managers
and the calling together OF the board when
the duties which will devolve upon it were
not ready for its attention. The report says:
"Eour committee is of the decided opinion
that the fair cannot well be conducted to a
successful termination under the dual man
agement which is now in operation in conse-
quence OF the construction placed upon the
law by the worlds Columbian commission.
The commission has exceeded its powers by
tn e appointment OF officers and committees to
conduct the management Of tho fair in its
executive details, which, in our interpreta-
tion of the law, belongs entirely to tho
worlds Colu exposition and its officers.
The commission was given quasi veto pogpSr<'
and not that of taking charge Of the cxecu-
ton Of the plans for the fair From the fact
that the commission Is honorary and without
salary the conclusion rs reasonable that their
duties were not intended to be exact
ing or continuous, so that they would
seriously interfere with their private
business. The duties of the commission may
be classed as affirmative and negative
national and international preliminary and
continuous The report says the progress
in the preparation of the government cx-
hibit is as great as could be expected and the
work of the government board OF control has
taken tangible and salts factory shape. Men
ton is made of the allotments of the govern
ment appropriation, and the committee
believes that the exhibit OF the government
as prepared by the board will not suffer by
comparison with that of any foreign nation.
In order to carry out the suggestions of tho
report-to place the whole enterprise on
more solid footing and carry out the evident
intention of congress-the committee sub
mits Joint resolution directing the secretary
OF the treasury not to approve the payment
OF any expense attendant upon the meeting
of the national commission or'board of lady
managers except such meeting as may be
called at the time of the dedication and
opening of the fair, nor approve any payment
attendant upon the meeting of the executive
committee, commissioners or lady managers,
except such meetings as may be held not
oftener than once in six months; providing
for reduction in the salary Of the president
of the national commission to not exceed
81, 600; vice chairman OF the executive COM
mittce, $4,000; secretary, $1,000; to the presi-
dent of the board of lady managers not to ex-
ceed 5000; secretary, $1,000; also that tho
secretary of the treasury shall not approve
any expenses of the national commission or
lady managers other than those above men
toned which shall amount to more than Sl0,
900 per annum in the aggregate. The resolu-
ton approprates $500, 900 for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1892, for the selection, pre-
paration, arrangement, etc, the employment
of proper persons, etc, for the various eeyS
ernm nment exni bits. The committee renews ftsA
opinion that the director general and his en-
ployes should be paid from the exposition
funds and not from the government appro-
priation. The report says it is not the inteu-
ton to recommend an increase in the amount
of money pledged by the government for tho
government exhibit, but it does feel that a
larger proportion than was originally con-
templatcd should be mado available lmmedi-
ately. The time Of preparation is limited
and the funds are needed at once.