The morning call., 1892-02-03
NO EXTRAVAGANZA.
Secretary ThOmpsOn's Reply to
Senator Carpenter.
BE Maintains That the California Worlds
Fair Commission Has Not Violated
the Legislative Enactment.

Thomas II. Thompson, Secretary of TIT
California State Worlds Fair Com mission
returned last night from trip through the
southern portion of the State. During thu
week he has visited Los Angeles, San Der.
nardno and San Diego counties In the In
terPsts of the exposition.
When seen at the Lick. Captain Thomp
son discussed an interview published in al
evening paper, in which Senator r. B. Car
penter criticized the commission for alleged
extravaganza and maintained that in Great
Ing salaried Offices the provisions Of the bill
creating the commission and providing an
appropriation had been violated.
I'm my trip through the southern pOr-
tion of the State" said Captain Thompson
Il ala not hear word Of criticism or dis
cover any signs of dissatisfaction at The
policy Of the commission. On the contrary
found the people active and enthusiastic,
and disposed to do anything in their power
to assist the Commissioners
Senator Carpenter attacks the appoint
ment OF saared officers by the commission.
stating particularly that one of the Com
mlSsloners should receive no rem uneTatiOn
apart from his allowance for travelling eX-
penses. In stating that these appOiEt t.
ments are contrary to the provisions of the
act Senator Carpenters OpiniIn is at vaEi-
ance with that Of Attorney-General w. II.
II. Hart. Morris NJ. EStee, Governor II. H.
Markham and numerous others whom
have consulted.
THREE QUERIES PROPOUNDED.
Il have Attorney General Harris written
opinion in answer to three questions which
l prOpOunded. These queries we're: First
a Secretary? SecOnd-If so, is a Commits
sioner eligible for the Officer Third-lf a
Commissioner is appointed Secretary can
he receive salary for his services in that
capacity An affirmative answer was re-
turned TO each of these Inquiries.
Il was at Sacramento last winter when
the legislators we're discussing the proposed
bill creating the commission, and tile reason
assigned for providing no salary to members
OF the board was that it was said they
would devote only such time as would be
necessary for supervsOrial work. AS SecTe-
tary | devote my whole time to the work.
1t would be absolutely impossible to
transact the business of the commission
without clerical assistance. So far two sub
ordinate secretaries have been appointed,
only one of whom has been assigned 10 duty.
Two small warrants have been drawn and
the money deposited with the Treasurer.
The aggregate amount IS not One-fOurth Of
the sum mentioned by Senator Carpenter.
Last July when the question of the con-
stltutonalty OF the legislative appyOpria-
ton was fore the Supreme Court l met
Judge Carpenter, and casually asked his
opinion regarding the outcome Of the case.
He refused 10 give his opinion on the
ground that he was not the counsel of the
commission, but said that he hoped we
would be beaten. lie added that the Com
misSOnerS were a set of - ingrates, Ia
that instead Of retaining him or one Of sew
eral others whom he named we had en-
ployed a man who had performed no public
service, and who is not even a Republican.
POLITICS NOT \ RECOMMENDATION.
1" AS a matter of fact, politics did not
enter into our selection If an attorney. We
engaged ex-Judge Mckiustry because we
considered his opinion valuable and We be-
lieved that he would have weight in arguing
the case before the Supreme Court.
" The Board OF Lady Commissioners was
appointed at the request of Mrs. Potter
Palmer, President of the National Board of
Lady Managers, ana concurred in by
DIrectOr-General Davis and Thomas w.
Palmer, President of the National Board OF
Control, in recognition Of the importance Of
wOmen's work. So far as my Information
goes, such a board has been appointed by
the commissions of every State and Terri
tory in which there is a organization, so if
we have made mistake we nave erred in
good company.
IL am not at all impressed by the threat
that the next Legislature will repeal the act
creating the commission. Not cent OF the
money disbursed has been spent foOlishly
or recklessly. In my judgment every pro-
vision for work has been just and legitf-
mate, and in keeping with the spirit OF the
act | don't believe that any act of the
commission will be rescinded by the COM
mission or the courts, or that there will be
any attempt to obtain a judicial order re-
straining or hampering our plans for col
lecting 4 State exhibit"