Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-03-07
Why HE DIDN'T SIGN.
MA. RANpolRH's VIEWS WITH REFER.
ENce TO EXPOSITION SHORTAGE.
Ne Thinhs the Items Of Coat Were In
prcpsriy Divided and That the Re
freshmsat Bii Was Too Large.

II 10 highly probable that there will be
suit between tho Virginia Agricultural
and Mechanical Society and Colonel John
Murphy and the other gusrantors of the
recent State Exposition. Colonel William
=. Wickham, chairman Of the Finance
Committee Of the society. 10 IN receipt OF
both the majority and minority reports Of
the arbitration committee appointed to
settle this controversy aud hes forwarded
responses TO them aud advised Colonel
Murphy OF their contents. Colonel Wick
ham has also requested settlement
on the part Of Colonel Murphy in accord
ance with the award OF the majority OF the
committee. The amount found by the
majority of the arbitrators TO be cue 70
the society by Colonel Murphy as chief
guarantor Is S3.I2is6. This finding was
signed by Messrs. Lewis II. Blair and n.
w. Bowe, while Mr.. N. V. Randolph sent
IN minority report. giving his reasons ior
refusing TO append his signature 20 the
paper submitted 10y his associate aroitrs-
tors.
MR. EASDoLrH's REPORT.
10 this paper Mr.. Randolph saws:
IL 10 wth regret that ind myself unable 70
agree with the decision OF the arbitrators IN tue
case OF your society w. the guorantors, anu
feel u ray duty 10 present minority rePor''
agement, some Of whom are my pefsOuai
friends; but as could not conscienliously sign
the report must give my reasons Tor aeci'nihE
20 do 40.
Many OF tho guarantors signed this paper Tor
personal profit and many IRON patriotic mo,
tves, being willing 20 contribute Tor the genorai
good OF tho community; but oil, am sure, WIN
the belief that the committee IN charge OIL 'oe
expenses would exercise strict economy
10 Is evident. ihink. from examination OF inc
vouchers and statements mat THIS mas hot Deeu
G,.t atUtaf lon a ~
and repair and improvement accounts large
items are charged 20 expense which properly De-
long TO repair and improvements
THg ITEMS OBJECTED TO.
The largo mass OF papers. bills, etc., make ~
nearly impossible for me TO examine each uotu,
but the larger amounts have been carefully gone
over. and have found that the following items
have been charged 70 expense that, IN IN!
Judgment properly belong TO improvements;
e4OG for whitewashing the building ms was
not necessary for the conduct OF the Exposiuon'
not properly chargeabie 20 expense.
elsl for foundation for engine. The OLD TX.
position OF seven weeks duration only requuou
x25 tor this purpose. a.,
400 for carpenters bid. with a credis OF
only 400 10 improvements, while, In my Iuus-
mont. 81. 200 should have been credited 10 I'M
prcyements and 600 charged 10 expense.
1856 charged 10 refreshment account az heau-
quarters Ii took loss than 500 ior tne same
department during tho seyen-weoks bAposlton
oil 1883.
THE EXPENSES EXCESSIVE
The amount paid for labor appears 10 be out
Of proportion TO the amount OF WORK done. 1
have been unable TO get fun statement OF The
committee OF the Old Exposition. which ran Tor
seven weeks; bu. from the report oil the DIRECTOR
General, which covers everything pertaining 70
the Exposition proper II Is very eeus e. 70 my ivy
position held last fall are far out OF proportion
10 the work done.
While your committee has CHARGED to repair
and Improvement account S2,7so.O2. leaving
the net amount 10 reimburse the society OF
s3.f6l. OF. a more careful review OF the expendi-
ture would entitle the guarantors 10 adultlohhi
credits amounting TO between seventeen ana
eighteen hundred dollars, and reducing their
liability 10 81, 1861. Od. have used round figures
as have not the vouchers before me-
IL IL not my purpose desire to critcise the
decision arrived nj by my associates or the indt-
vidual action OF any member OF your committee,
but at the same time 1 must do what think
right and just In the premises.
COLONEL wIcKHAM's RESPONSE.
Colonel Wickham has written reply to
the report of Mr. Randolph, in which he
defends the position OF the Agricultural
Society. He stated that strlctest economy
was used in the management of the Expo
sition, but this had nothing whatever TO
do with the decision of the arbitrators.
He referred to the fact that Colonel Muir
ply. the chief guarant0r, was member
Of the Executive COMMITTEE OF the Agrl-
cultural Society. and had a perfect right
duet of affairs. Colonel Wickham says that
the fact that Slsl was paid for founda-
ton for an engine. as compared with S25
for the same III 1883. does not prove that
the expense was not a necessary and pro-
per one.
In regard TO Mr.. Randolph's remarks
about the 81 400 carpenter bill Colonel
Wickham asserts that the cost connected
with PAINS Paris alone amounted TO much
more than the $500 difference, and that
this and the patchwork here and there
could only be chargeable to Incidental and
necessary expenses for the holding of the
Exposition proper.
Colonel Wickham states in reference to
the 1886 refreshment bill for the EXPOSE
ton headquarters that because the same
account IN 1858 was only $50 does not,
prove that the expense was an improper
one. Matters at the headquarters, he
assures, were conducted in the same man
ner IN which they had been at all fairs
since 1888.
In Colonel Wickham's letter to Colonel
Murphy he expresses his pleasure that IN
this entire controversy the personal friend
ship existing between them has IN nowise
haa