The morning call., 1891-09-08
Reports Presented to the Ma
ti0nal Commission.
Measures Proposed TO Meet The Threatened
Deficit in Funds.
A Cut In Salaries or LOan-The Whole
Matter Finally Referred 10 Board
Of Reference and Control.
Special to THE MORNING GAEL.

CHICAGO, Sept. THE National Colum-
bian Commission rrassembled this morning.
The report of the Committee on Awards,
recommending the appointment of COM
mittee of eight to have charge of the award
of premiums, was adopted. after being
amended to make the number twelve, and
referred to the Judiciary Committee to
frame the rules and bylaws for its govern
ment.
Commissioner Mercer of Wyoming intro
duced resolution setting forth that the
Bureau of Publicity and Promotion had
sent out statement that there would be
several theaters on the Worlds Fair
grounds, to which separate charges of ad-
mission would be made, and declaring it to
be the sense OF the commission that only
one price for admission should be charged
for everything on the grounds. Referred to
the Committee on judiciary.
A committee of four was appointed to pre-
pare suitable resolution touching the
death of Commissioner Bingham of Wash
ington.
A request from the Board of Lady Man.
ayers for permission to extend their session
for one or two days was acceded to.
The Committee on Resolutions touching g
the death of Commissioner Bingham made
suitable report, and after adopting 1t the
commission adjourned until 2 O'Clock.
AT the afternoon session resolution was
adopted instructing the members of the
commission to labor with the members of
Congress in their respective States to secure
their vote for the proposed movement for
loan of S5,00O,00O to the fair.
The COMMITTEE on Tariffs and IraQSD0r-
tatiOn reported that low rates for visitors
and exhibits would be made by The railroads
of the country, and asked permission to re-
quest from the railroads passes for the Com
missioners and lady managers to and from
the commission meetings, thus saving large
items of expense. The report was adopted.
The Committee on Judiciary reported
upon the recommendation OF the Auditing
Committee in regard to the prospective de-
felt in the commissions appropriation for
the current year. The Auditing Committee
recommended that the salaries of President
Palmer and Vice Chairman Mckenzie of
5000 each be cnt off; that $1,000 be taken
from the salary of the DirectOr-Genera,
and that the April meeting of the commits
sion be postpOned until July IN order to
avoid the expected deficit
The Judiciary Committee reported that
the local directory had offered to lend the
commission the necessary $4,000 until such
time as the amount for payment could be
secured IIOn congress-, LnuS SdYlUS luo pIU-
posed cut in salaries.
Commissioner Waller of Connecticut op-
posed the adoption of the report. He
thought it would be undignified and put the
commission in an embarrassing position to
accept a loan from the local directory. The
deficit would not occur In any case before
the close of the fiscal year, or June 80, 1892.
and in the meantime the commission could
apply TO Congress for the necessary funds.
Commissioner Massey of Delaware de-
Tended the report of the committee.
A number of warm speeches followed and
Commissioner ST. Clair of West Virginia
closed for the Judiciary Committee in favor
of borrowing the directory's money. He
said the Auditing Committees proposition
to cut off the Vice-Cnairman'5 salary, but
not the Director Generals, would be taken
by the South as a political move. He hoped
the commission would see the mistak in
such action.
Commissioner Butt, st. Clar's colleague,
who is a Republican, objected to the inti-
nation that politics had anything to do
with the salary-cutting report. Vice
Chairman Mckenzie drew 5000 year for
an office which had no duties. The funds
threatened to give out, and the only way to
avoid a deficit was to cut down needless eX-
penses.
Judge Tousley of Minnesota said it looked
as though the Vice -Chairman's salary was
to be continued because the commission
feared to offend the South or some political
party. 1t was dishonorable of the commits
sion to think of borrowing money.
Commissioner Waller appealed to the
speakers to drop politics. He offered SUBJ
stitute for ell pending motions, which was
adopted by fifty-one to seven, referring the
whole matter to the Board of Reference and
Control. In effect this latter body is author
lied to borrow $4,000 of the directors in
case Congress fails to appro pirate the money
to meet the commissions deficiency. All
official salaries are TO continue.