The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-11-26
COMMISSIONERS TALK.
The Matter of the Prize Goes to the
Attorney General.
RHODY'S BUILDING CAUSES WOE.
The Worlds Fair Board Holds a Session
To-day and Hears a Long Document
on tho Subject of that $3.50 Award
for the Design.


The Board of Worlds Fair Commits
sioners for the State OF Rhode Island held
a highly important meeting to-day.
Those present were Frank q. Harris,
Mayor Pond, Lorillard Spencer, Gardi-
ner G. Sims, Hiram Howard, Walter A.
Peck, Miss Charlotte I. DALEY and Ex
ecutive Commissioner John &. Wyman.
Mr.. Harris was chosen chairman.
Mr.. Sims read communication from
the secretary of the Rhode Island chap
ter of .he American Institute OF Arcbi-
tecls which contained the report OF the
special committee appointed AS board
of arbitration IL regard TO the award OF
the prize To the successful competitor In
the Rhode Island state building competi-
tion. The communication was as FOL
lows:
"At meeting of the Rhode Island
Chapter A. /. A. held last evening the
following report was received:
"The undersigned a committee appoint
ed by the Rhode Island chapter 4. /. A.
10 make report upon plans and papers
sent in by the building committee of the
Worlds fair commission for the State of
Rhode Island, have examined said plans
and papers. In our opinion the six plans
submitted for our inspection are in order
Of merit rs follows: No, !, Esperance";
No. 2, "Stone Mill"; No. 3, Hope Mil'';
No. 4, Excelsior; No. 5, "Red SeaI':
No. O. "Pohham and Pyssicus."
while. We mud that each plan has
some very good polnts and considerable
in -enuity and originality has been dis
played ia arrangement OF both interior
and exterior, we are of the opinion that
none of the plans can be considered suit
able for building for the purpose re
quired.
I'VE are convinced that there was. on
the part OF the commission, no real or in
territorial violation of the rules of this
competition as set forth in their adver-
tisemsnt. We cannot refrain from criti-
cising the action of two OF the competi-
tors who together and individually sent
in four of the six plans, thus seeking To
gain unuue advantage over other compet-
itors. c. T.. CARPENTER,
''F. j. SAWTELLE."
NJ. ID. Mason, for the competitors for
the Rhode Island state building compe-
tition, sent "A communication TO the COM
missioners He said that they had agreed
TO abide by the decision OF the Rhode
Island Chapter OF the "A. l. A, and they
took pleasure in SO doing
Continuing Mr.. Mason said: 1--WE now
refer you TO the remaining conditions of
the program, whereby the prize OF $3.50
shall be paid to such author. and further,
that all plans submitted shall be return
eel TO their respective owners. The TACT
that the COMMITTEES of this chapter has
seen fit to exceed the limiIs of of this
duty is a source of surprise and regret To
us, and then further su gestions, criti-
csms and at empted decision as to the
| merits of our claim, as embodied In their
r. port, we refuse to recognize or accept,
| and would suggest that such recommen-
| dations come with but little force from
a committee of two, one OF whom is dis
| tinctly Interested party, and must neces-
sarily view this matter IN partial and
personal light.
THE competitors unanimously dis
| tinctly state that the body in question
| has no jurisdiction or power TO attempt
TO prejudice in any way the legal status
| of our cIaim, aud this portion OF the
| questions involved must stand as pre-
| viously to-wit First. that Messrs. stone.
| Carpenter * Wilson were never legltl-
maze competitors for such prize; second,
| that the contract of your commission to
pay to the author of the best design sub
| mitted on or before Dec. j, 1871, prize OF
$3.50, has not up to this time, been full
filled.
1--WE now claim your final decision, be-
| fore proceeding further as TO whether
YOU will pay this prize TO the author of
''Esperance" or not. The time has now
come for your body 10 take it's last action
OH this matter and we respectfully re-
quest that there may be no delay on your
| part in informing us of your decision"
On the motion of Mayor Pond the fol-
lowing was passed. Voted, that the
question of Il claim or claims for an
award OF prize to the architects sub
mitting plans for State building TO be
erected at Chicago together with all the
papers relating to the same be submitted
| to the attorney general for his opinion as
TO the legal liability of the board in the
premises"
Commissioner Wyman presented his
monthly report. lie stated that more
| applications had been received for space
than there is for allotment. Little that
was new happened since the last meeting
Messrs. Sims, Spencer and Howard TO-
gether with Executive Commissioner
Wyman were appointed n committee tc
name and made arrangements Tor
Rhode Island day at the exposition.
Mr.. Sims for the building committee
reported that the state bilding had been
ompleted and furnished
Mr.. Harris, for the committee on exhi
bit, reported that "a contract had beer
made with the Church brothers OF Tiver
ton, for fishery exhibit.
Miss DALEY stated that $3.50 wso need
ed TO continue the woman's work tha
has been initiated. That sum was appro
priated for the purpose which she stated
The commission then adjourned.