The morning call., 1892-04-28
WORLDS FAIR TROUBLES.
Discussions in the California
Commission.
SEINE Of the Commissioners Desire to Vacate
the Appointment of Secretary
Thomas H. Thompson.

There Is serious trouble in the Worlds
fair Commission, the difficulty centering in
The ch. eff executive officer. who is secretary
OF the board and general manager of the
exhibit
Nnea the commission organized there
were two candidates for the secretaryship-
Thomas II. Thompson and James d. Phelan.
ihe former was elected, but the Commits
sioners who supported his canddature are
now most hostile to his iucum bency.
Each Commissioner is reimbursed for his
expenses to the extent of $1,000 per year.
and about six months ago Thompson's
salary as secretary was fixed at $500 per
north. He thought he was legally entitled
TO this remuneration and to the expense
allowance as well, but some of the other
commissioners thought differently, and
this was the beginning Of the controversy.
Inc question of the legality OF any Com
missioner receiving a salary for clerical
work was also raised, and after prolonged
consideration of the point Mr.. Thompson's
colleagues advised him 10 send in his
resignation to the Governor, which was done.
Ihe commission then deliberated regard
iDe the appointment OF secretary and
general manager 10 succeed Mr.. Thompson.
4 ilree names were considered, those of
h0mas III. Thompson, John Markey of
Sonoma and John Craig, the assistant sec
tary OF the commission, whose work was
tnOught 10 deserve promotion. Thompson
asked for $500 month. the extra 500 to
compensate him for tile loss of his expense
allowance. The commission, however, re-
ailrmed the smaller salary and three of the
members were opposed to reapp0inting Sec
Ietary Thompson. IL was stated that the
Governor had urged that there be no change
Tor the present for fear OF losing public
commence In the commission, and On this
account the three opposing Commissioners
state that they ceased their opposition tenn
porarily.
But the end is not yet The patronage in
the gift Of the commission is valuable and
some months ago the secretary was en-
powered TO make appointments. provided
they should be subsequently ratified by the
board.
This privilege was recently revoked and
q resolution passed that ali the minor Offices
should be filed directly by the commission.
In spite Of this provision. the Commission
ers say that Secretary Thompson has con-
tinued to I'll positions without consulting
the BOARD, although some Of the members
had nominees who were ignored TO make
room for the secreiary's friends.
One Commissioner stated yesterday that.
although the State Printer would do all the
printing required without cost to the COM
mission, great deal of work had been fur
nlshed at high rates by a local firm, and
that II was proposed TO eXpend needlessly
$4,000 OF the appropriation for this purpose.
Three OF the Commissioners are firmly
con ylneed that the work necessitates change
In the SecretaryShip. and say that the SER
vices of the incumbent have prove d
unsatisfactory and that bis retention will
not be for the best interests Of a State ex-
hlbst Al least one other MEMBERS believed
TO share the same opinions. The next
meeting will be held on the 10Th inst. Some
of the Commissioners will not be present at
that time, and so action will be deferred
until subsequent session. In the mean
time Secretary Thompson continues 10 hold
the fart