The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-08-03


making such exhibits. He likewise will
investigate the question of making relief
map through the agencies of the different
school organizations of the state
Professor J. E. Henderson. of Olympia.
mas been commissioned assistant COM
missioner, in charge of the forestry de-
partment, for which he will be paid 800
per month. Professor Henderson is one
OF the most painstaking and competent
botsnists in the state He has already
entered the field. and will take notes dur
ing the progress of his work with q view
that later. if it Is found practicable, TO
classify and publish complete catalogue
OF the timbers and fora of the state.
Negotiations with Mr.. David Hume, of
Tacoma, for collecting fishes of all kinds
within the waters of Puget sound and the
straits and the rivers of Western Washing
ton, are in progress. The following letter
from Mr.. Hume explains itself:
beg to tender you the following proposition:
1 viii undertake to supervise the making of q
complete collection of the fsh species OF Western
Washington for the Washington exhibit at the
worlds Columbian exposition, under your d.
rsction, without cost TO the state for nv services
1 to have the right TO put upon the specimens
labels OF the Tacoma Fishing Company as fol-
lows: COLLECTED by the Tacoma Fishing
Company, Tacoma, Wash" This VIII include
all specimens gratis, which are taken By us in
our regular line of business, but not the cost of
such as would need to be purchased; neither the
cost OF preserving the same.
The exhibit is to belong to the state, and be
suhjec. 10 your orders at any time
II would like to renew my request" Mr..
Meeker says, that you set apart sum
not less than $1,000, including the $500
already received, subject to the check of
the executive commissioner with which 10
meet the current expenses incident to the
work at hand"
The following letter, which is self-ex-
planatory, has been sent to \. G. Blalock,
president of the commission, by Mr..
Meeker:
In response to the excerpts" from the
minutes of the executive committee of the
Washington Worlds fair commission which re-
iers TO the executive commissioner, a copy of
which il hereunto annexed, / write you TO ask
that meeting of the commission be called at
once to define the duties of the executive COM
mlttes and executive commissioner
Section OF the act defines the duties of the
executive commissioner as follows: "The
Worlds Fair commission is authorized and
directed TO appoint an executive commissioner
ana 10 nx his salary, not to exceed $3.50 per
month, which shall be payable monthly out OF
the funds hereinafter provided for, and said
executive commissioner shall be authorized and
required to assume and exercise, subject TO the
supervision OF said commission, all such execu-
tive powers and functions as may be
necessary to secure q complete and cred
liable display OF the interests of the state
at the Worlds Columbian exposition of
1898, and as the executive agent of said
commission he shall have personal charge of the
solicitation, collection, transportation, arrange
ment and exhibition of the objects sent under
the authority of the state to the Worlds Column
bian exposition OF 1893, and of such objects sent
by individual citizens of the state as may be by
them placed in his charge He shall make q re-
port TO the commission monthly, or AZ often as by
them required, and shall hold Office at the pleas
ure OF the commissioner"
You will see by q close examination of the
law that it does not define the duties of the ex-
ecutiye committee except in section 8, as fol-
lows: "The commissioner shall serve without
salary, but each may be allowed 500 per year for
his expenses; provided, that the executive CON-
mittee may expend in addition not to exceed
5000 year for their expenses"
Section Of the bylaws says: "The execu-
tive commissioners shall act under the super
vision and control of the executive committee
as provided by law" If there is no law pro-
vided, of course this provision 10 null and void;
If there was such a provision, it certainly could
not be construed that the committee could take
the executive work into their own hands, when
the same is provided for in the act. / have no
desire to set myself UP in opposition TO the COM
mission, but when these proceedings OF the ex-
ecutive committee came under review in direct
antagonixm of what l had done az seemed
clearly in the line of duy, and which, let me as
sure you'll honestly believe to be within both the
letter and spirit of the law, naturally turned
to q more critical examination of the law and
the organization of the commission under It.
There is no provision whatever as the COM
mission 10 now organised, wherein the execu-
tive committee has the power to expend ono
dollar, other than "for their expenses" out of
the 5000 provided for the year. You will no
tice that the secretary OF the commission, not
the secretary of the committee, must ''sign all
checks, vouchers, etc" He cannot certainly
legally sign checks not directly authorized by
the body of the commission, of which he is the
secretary.
A case In point clearly Illegal, when Mr..
Kaufman, the secretary of the commission, was
absent, secretary pro tenn was attempted TO be
elected (Mr. Rochester. who signed the vouchers)
by the executive committee; an act they had no
warrant in law to do; in word, the financial
affairs OF the commission are now ali in a mud
die, and will become more SO each day matters
continue as now.
II you will scan the Law closely you will OBJ
serve tQAt Ill authority uOL ucnhCO Al ~
governing the acts of the executive commits
sioner, rests with the commission and not the
executive committee, and that the commission
has not delegated that authority 70 any person,
committee or otherwise.
Doubtless the commission as a body can enact
"rules and regulations for the government of
the executive committee" Is also that of the
executive commissioner, within the lines OF sec
ton of the act, and can prescribe method by
which the funds may be legally drawn and dis
bursements made without continually coming
together at q great expense and loss of time to
the mem bers; but until that is done the present
confusion is certain not only TO continue, but
all the while become worse.
The foregoing Ineongruitiss IN the organfza-
ton is not one-half that can be pointed out, but
believing enough has been shown to remove all
doubts from your mind. now formally ask you
10 call meeting of the commission at rs early q
date as is practicable 70 get full attendance.
The commissioners, with deliberation, GER
tainly can formulate rules and regulations
which will make such a conflict impossible as
now exists between the COMMITTEES and myself
That is an end which we all ought TO seek in
spirit for the public good.
would suggest that Olympia be the place for
calling this meeting, where the commissioners
could be within reach of the governor and audi
tor, who are by the act made part of the super
vising power.