The morning call., 1893-07-18
WAYS AND MEANS.
Labors of the Finance Committee and
the Outcome.

the Outcome.
The finance committee held meeting
at P. NJ, Wendell Easton in the chair.
The chairman announced that it had
been found impossible to get the Grand
Opera-house for the purpose Of mass
meeting, as It was out of repair. Possibly
the meeting would be held on Thursday
evening next in the Metropolitan Temple
or elsewhere.
Mr.. Hurlbut reported that the building
trades had contributed $1,000 out OF their
funds to the fair and that the members had
individually subscribed $4,000 in ten min
utes. [Applause.]
The chairman announced that all trans
portation companies had been commune
Gated with and liberal response was
expected within ten days. The street rail-
roads were all in accord and would con-
tribute in proportion to the benefit they
expected to receive.
Mr. Easton then made an energetic ar
peal to the mem bers of the committee to
take off their coats and make good start.
He said this week would tell the story
whether the Mdwinter Fair would "go" or
not. The banks and corporations had
been advised that they would be waited on
readiness. The time was al hand, and not
many meetings would be held in order to
allow the members to work fard as col
lectors. All must saw wood and have some
on the pile.
JabeZ Swan grew very earnest in ex-
planning what apathy he had encountered
in his rounds among the wealthy. Those
who had made their millions out Of Cali
fOrna ard who ought To come TO the front
with $4,000, $50, $4,000. $4,000 and
$4,000 checks locked up their money in
vaults and did not give an iOta compared
with what was given by the middle classes.
If anarchism and right were to menace
their millions they would lie back in the
same ay and let the middle classes d.
fend them. They were refusing to help
the canvassers to-day and this spirit would
sooner or later cause cataclysm iu the
country and perhaps might just as well
come now as at any other time. This
thing had got to stop and wealthy men ad
to come forward and not leave this to peo-
ple who had dollars where they have mil
lions.
Editor Greenblatt started long inquiry
as 10 what should be done with any sur
plus that might accrue from the fair. He
said the solution of the question would be
a help to collectors.
Colonel Litchfleld stated that when
there had been similar surplus in the
Grand Army on one occasion it was by
consent of the subscribers turned over to
the Veterans Home.
Chairman Easton thought the finance
committee had merely to collect the money.
Instead of surplus, il would be we'll to
consider: Shall we have a fair at all or
not? There was an expense Of $4,000 in
the site proposition to be encountered As
sistant Director Cornely has said the in
come would be assured from the foreign
exhibitors, but the finance committee must
do its part as regards the fair site and
buildings.
First" said Mr.. Easton, "let us make
the fair success, and then we can talk
about surplus"
But a number of other members dis
cussed this matter of surplus and the
kindred matter as to what would become of
subscriptions supposing the fair did not 60
through.
A. G. Booth was in favor of aiding the
collectors by definite answer.
DR.. LIE Tourneux said in his travels as a
collector for the fair, he found every one
wanted some satisfaction for their SUBJ
scrlptlons. Most of the support of the fair
he found among the small tradesmen.
What the committee wanted was checks.
large checks-and no counterfeits, either.
He did not think that any large fund could
be created this week. Ii the banks and
other large corporations would come up,
the rest would follow. Another incentive
would be the beginning OF work in the
park. He recommended the getting at the
capitalists.
Easton suggested that it would be proper
TO ask the executive committee to take
action In the matter, and later on a letter
came from the executive committee In the
form OF resolution that any surplus
should be returned TO contributors or
divided among such public purpose as the
majority should decide upon.
Then the railroad company's attitude
came in for considerable criticism.
Oscar Lewis said the inquiry was ALWAYS
who is most interested in this fair ?" and
the answer always was the railroads. the
hotels, restaurants, ETC.. in descending
scale Of magnitude II the collectors could
say definitely that the railroad had SUBJ
scribed $4,000 and other interests other
amounts the enterprise would 90 much
better
Clement Bennett said only that day he
had been round TO one of the wealthiest
liauoT-dealers in the city and had been
asked what the Southern Pacific was
going to gve-was it not $4,000 with a
string to it? He had been asked this not
once. but haf-dozen times.
General W. Fl. L. Barnes took the chair
at this 1uncture and said that he had
anticipated this very inquiry regarding the
Soutnern Pacific, and had been instructed
by the executive committee to address the
company for some explicit information on
the subject, to be publicly read and go on
record.
The director-generai appeared Just then
and said letter had been received in an
swer from the company, but the writer
nad evidently not understood the question.
However. he would state again that in a
meeting with Fl. E. Huntington, Colonel
y. +. Crecker and others. the directors
had been very explicit. They had con-
sented to run spur of their road into the
park. II rIght-of-way we're secured for
them. TO give half freight rates to the fair,
special excursion rates and have specially
low round-trip tickets three or four days
week to the fair, and finally would give
$4,000 Internationally.
Oscar Internationally?
Director General Internationally.
Moreover. II more were afterward re-
quired it would be forthcoming
General Barnes tnen made glowing
speech. He said everything was going
WELL If the fair did not 60 through every
one who subscribed would got his money
back. The main conflict between the ex-
ecutive committee and the Park Commis-
sioners had been amicabIy settled. and
that meant $3.50. 600 to the enterprise. He
considered that capitalists as subscribers
were unreliable; they depended greatly on