Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-10
WORLDS FAIR SQUABBLRS AND EX-
TRAVAGANr SALARIES.


the several dominating officials OF that
enterprise. Director General Davis, of
the national commission, has been sup
posed to be the responsible executive
functionary of the fair. But there is a
marked friction between the director
general OF the national body and the
director-general of the local board of
managers, the latter gentleman named
Baker. The sensible theory would
seem to be that the head of the
local board ought to regard himself
as the subordinate of the head OF the
national board. The original plan seems
to have been that the head of the ma
tional commission was also to have been
the chief of the Chicago directory. In
this way an harmonious plan of action
could have been decided upon. The
press of Chicago is full of uuseemly bick-
erings which have arisen through the
dissensions of these gentlemen. The
general consensus of opinion seems to
lean to the view that Davis is right,
that he is capable and energetic, and
that if some plan of doing away with
the clashing jurisdictions is not hit
upon the fair is in great danger of being
a failure. M
People outside of Chicago are but
slightly aware of the involu ion and
convolution that have characterized the
management of what, it was hoped,
would prove to be the greatest exposi-
tion ever held since the world began.
The only thing that could properly de-
scribe these querulous intricacies is the
line from Milton, "Chaos umpire sits
and, by decision, more embroils the
fray" The present aspect of things
suggests nothing so forcibly as the at
tempt of militia general from one Of
the states to overrule the general in
chief of the United States army, when
they were supposed to be agreeing upon
the plan of campaign. This was once
seen in an episode between Gen. Zach
Taylor and General Pillow in Mexico,
but it was not regarded as likely prece-
dent for imitation. Unless there is some
kind of subordination in the direction
of the fair concerns, the whole thing will
turn out to be wretched fiasco.
1t is small wonder that, under the
the embroglio is being
discussed in congress. The attention of
the national legislature seems to have
been specially concentrated on the gen.
erous scale of salaries which the several
officials, big and little, have allotted
themselves. The directors general of
both bodies draw handsome stipends,
each -eceipting for $1,000 a month-a
very pleasant little sum as matters are
run in this work-a-day world. One OF
the gentlemen who make our laws seems
to think that if an official of the fair re-
ceives $4,000 year a member of con-
gress ought to draw at least $4,000.
However this may be, when it comes to
the president of the local board
also receiving $4,000 yearly it would
seem to be about time to call a
halt. If to these high ealaries
iobbery and peculation are added
not impossible things in Chi
cago of all places-the people who
have been so lavish in providing funds |
Tor the fair will think that they have
made mistake, and will ask them
selves if they have not been swindled
outright. We are departing rapidly in
deed from the old, frugal standards of
this country, when such outrageous
salaries are paid. They are, in fact,
quite demoralizing to the masses.
When the average American citizen
realizes that he can only earn, often
with high expenditure of Drawn, brain /
and muscle, thousand dollars year,
while some pampered son of fortune re-
,eives $4,000 for less work Gov
srlng the same period, he may
be excused if he shows that he is dis |
yruntled. When the salaries of con-
sressmen, even, seem pitiful in COM
parison with the royal largesses exacted
oy these worlds fair people, great ma
'ional trust is undoubtedly being prosti-
,uted to purposes of private gain.
That Americans are sensitive to such
,xactions has been shown very fire.
luently. This was probably never bet
er illustrated than in the fate which
'efell the back-pay congressman who
illed the forty third congress of the
United States. That body, in addition
o the previous Credit Mobilier scan
lals, made Republican legislation odious
~ advancing the salaries Of its mem
'ers from the old SO a day for actual
ervice to $4,000 per annum. Perhaps
here might have been a divided
entiment amongst the voters if our
friends had not made the
natter retroactive. But the storm burst.
)f all the congressman who had changed
he conditions under which they entered
he public service not one was re-
lected. The fact that he might have
overed his swag into the treasury of
he United States when he saw the
torn rising made no difference whatso-
yer. He was doomed man, and passed
nto the list of "frightful examples
hat are cultivated for the behoof and
Of mankind, doubtless on
be same principle on which the jackal
) maintained by nature as foil to that