The record-union., 1891-01-18
Report of the House. Investigation
Committee.
GOVERNMENT MONEYS TOO Law
ISHLY EXPENDED.
The Committee Believe That the Fair
Cannot Be Conducted to Success
full Termination Under the Dual
Management-It Also Recommends
q Reduction in the Salaries Paid to
It's Officers.
Special to the REconp-uS1oS.

/ WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Representatiye
Gambler of Massachusetts, Chairman of
The Select Committee on the Worlds Fair,
to-day presented to the House report OF
the subcommittee that went to Chicago
to examine into the condition of matters
there i'll relation to the Worlds Fair.
.Ehe report says that in the expenditure
OF public money the powers assumed by
| the Worlds Columbian Commission pro-
duced confusion, as we'll rs caused the
unnecessary expenditure of the public
money, which was intended by Congress
10 pay the expenses of the Government
exhibit, and not to pay the excessive
salaries to officers of the commission.
Provision, the report says, has been
made to pay the President, Secretary and
Dlrector-General annual salaries Of Sl2. 900
and $4,000, respectively, and S. 1000 to the
Vice Chairman of the Executive Conn
mittee. The salaries, in the opinion of
the committee, are excessive. and should
not be continued. An excessive expense
has also been incurred in the appoint
ment of such a large number as 1l5 wo-
men on the Board of Lady Managers.
and the calling together OF the board
when the duties which will devolve upon
1t were not ready for its attention.
The report says: ''Your committee are
of decided opinion that the fair cannot
we'll be conducted to a successful terrni-
nation under the dual management which
IS now Ill operation, in consequence of
the construction placed upon the law
| by the w orld'S Columbian Commission
The commission has exceeded its powers
by the appointment OF officers and COM
nlitteeS to conduct the management of
the fair in its executive details, which. in
~ of tIn low I..NI~.
solely to the Worlds Columbian Expo-
sition and its officers
THE commission was given veto powers
and not that of taking charge of the exc
cution of the plans for the fair From
the TACT that the commission is honorary
and without salary, the conclusion is
reasonable that their duties We're not in
tended to be eXacting or continuous so
they would seriously interfere with their
private business. The duties of the com
mission may be classed as affirmative
and negative, national and international,
preliminary and continuous"
| The report says the progress in the
| preparation of the Government exhibit is
as great as could be expected, and the
work Of the Government Board of Con-
| troll has taken tangible and satisfactory
shape. Mention is made of the allotments
| OF the Government appropriation, and
! the committee believes the exhibit of the
| government, as prepared by its board,
will not suffer by comparison with that
of any foreign nation.
In order to carry out the suggestions of
the report to place the whole enterprise
on more solid footing, and carry out
| the evident intention of Congress-, the
committee submits joint resolution di-
| rectlng the Secretary OF the Treasury not
TO approve the payment of any expense
| attendant upon the meeting of the Ma
! tional Commission or Board Of Lady
tiD,N. 80. - l.
/ 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 of the Commits
sion or Lady Managers, except such
meetings as may be held not oftener than
once in six months; providing for re-
! duction in the salary of the President of
/ the National Commission to not exceed
5000, Vice Chairman of the Executive
| Committee, $1,000, and the Secretary
$1,000; the President of the Board of Lady
! Managers not to exceed 5000, and the
Secretary $1,000. Also, that the Secretary
| of the Treasury shall not approve the
payment of any expenses of the National
| Commission or Lady Managers other
/ than those above mentioned, which shall
amount to more than $4,000 per annum
| in the aggregate.
The resolution appropriatos $500, 600 for
| the fiscal year ending june 80, 1892 for
the selection, preparation, arrangement,
etc, employment of proper persons, etc.,
! for tho various Government exhibits
Tho committee rcncws the opinion that
i the Director-Gencral and his employees
should be paid from the exposition funds,
and not from tho Government appropria-
/ ton.
The report says that it is not the inten-
ton to recommend an increase in the
amount of money pledged by the Govern
ment for the Government exhibit, but it
does feel that larger proportion than
was. originally contemplated should be
made available Immediately. The time
of preparation is limited, and funds are
needed ut once.