The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-07
No Emergency Clause in Wash
lngt0n Worlds Fair Bill.
WORK ALREADY DONE ILLEGAL.
Montana Smuggler Slain by Light.
ming While Bringing in Coolies.
Fatal Accident Near vancouver-Bodfes
ofLOng Beach Victims Not Recovered
-Forger whiIden to Be Taken Back
to Alabama.

OLh9rlA. aug SpeclaI. 8-CommfS-
sioner Ezra Meeker had an interview with
the state auditor today relative 10 the dis
bursement oS the fund appropriated for
Worlds fair purposes. Mr.. Meeker is pre-
pairing set Of rules for the government
of the state Worlds fair commission.
which he viii submit for the consideration
Of the commission az meeting TO be held
here the 2lst inst, and he desired Auditor
Reeds approval of rule delegat-
Ing power TO committee 10
make requisitions for funds so as
70 render ii unnecessary for the entire
commission 20 meet whenever cash is
needed. The auditor refused TO indorse
the plan, as be holds that under the law
creating the commission, . requisition for
funds cannot be honored unless made By
the commission itself, it not being lawful
TO delegate such authority. The commits
sion originally applied for one-half of the
entire appropriation, but the request was
refused, and warrants viii only be drawn
on itemized statements of expenses in
CURED Todate the commission has drawn
from the treasury S, 500.
While investigating the matter and
looking up the law on the subject, il was
discovered by Mr.. Meeker for the first time
that the Law creating the state board of
Worlds fair commissioners has no emer-
gency clause, and therefore did not take
effect until June s. The law provided for
the organization of the commission
within twenty days after Its pas
sage, but this provision was rendered
nugatory by the absence of an emergency
clause The commission proceeded. how
ever, 70 organize; but as the Law was not
IN effect at the date of the organization,
such organization, and ali acts under it,
including the appointment of Commits
sioner Meeker, which was made in May,
and the expenditure of moneys, has been
illegal
The controversy between the board and
Mr.. Meeker assumes new form in the light
OF today's discovery, as the board will
have TO elect an executive commissioner
anew. To what extent the board can
legally ratify the expenditures of money,
heretofore made, is a serious question.
The discovery of the premature organiza-
ton brings up number of problems and
viii undoubtedly demoralize Worlds fair
matters in the state for time.
1t appears also that the members of the
national board OF lady managers for Wash
ington, Mrs. Colonel 0wings and Mrs.
Houghton, of Spokane, together with their
alternates, were members of the state COM
mission by the statute creating it, but that
fact seems TO have been overlooked until
| today.
TACOMA, Aug. 81 Special. 1T is known
on the very best authority that Attorney
General Jones has given TO the Washing
ton Worlds fair commission his official
| opinion that the Worlds fair commission
| was Illegally organized and al work done
/ under il is therefore null and void. II is
now proposed 10 reorganize the commits
sion at g special meeting TO be held at
| Olympia on August 2l when a new COM
| mission Will choose a new executive COM
mittee and commissioner. The commits
| sion now declared illegal has already spent
| $500 of the funds, having drawn the same
| from the state treasurer. New bylaws and
an entire new organization must be
effected. No definite arrangement is made
as yet for annulling the action
| OF the commission. Il IS probable that 8
new executive committee viii be chosen,
! and upon the personnel of it will depend
| the question of continuing Ezra Meeker as
| commissioner. 1t is thought that the ex-
| ecutive committee of the Worlds fair
| commission may be called upon to stand
! the expenses already incurred BY them.
| The reason for Attorney General Jones
/ opinion Is that the law under which the
| commission was created did not contain
an emergency clause, therefore did not
| go into effect until ninety days after il
| was signed, while. on the other hand, the
| commission was organized twenty days
after the legislature adjourned. This
middle has created quite a sensation
| among the few here who are aware Of
/ Jones opinion. in which Governor Ferry
also is said to fully concur.