St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-03
National Commission and
Council Of Administration
at Loggerheads.
Each Body Claims Jurisdie-
tion to Settle the Piano
Question.
PadereWski Appears in a Con-
cert and Uses a Contra
band Piano.
The Question Of Sunday Open
ing Still to Be Set
tied.

CHICAGO, May 2.-There appears to
be decided clash of authority between
the national commissioners at the
worlds fair and the council of admins
tration. The vexing piano question is
the bone of contention, and each of the
above mentioned official bodies claims
to have jurisdiction in the matter, and
each appears to be determined that the
other shall withdraw. So far the cOun-
Gil of administration seems to have the
best of the wrangle. 1t is in favor of
allowing Director of Music Thomas and
Herr Paderewski to use piano made
by non-eXhiDitor. Today at concert
given in the music hall at the fair
grounds such piano was used in open
violation of orders emanating from the
national commission and with the con-
sent of the council of administration.
The question came up at the regular
meeting OF the national commission
today. Commissioner Burton announced
that Notwithstanding the commission
had ordered Director General Davis to
cause all pianos made by non-eXhibitors
to be removed from all the public build
ings, there was still such instrument in
the music hall. lie further understood
The Objectionable Piano
was to be used in few hours. A COM
mittee was at once sent for Director
Davis to ascertain why he had not COM
piled with the order of the commission.
The director general appeared before
the commission In few minutes, and
upon being Informed why he had
been sent for, replied that upon
receipt of the instructions he had Or
dered the director of works to re move
the Objectionable piano. He had taken
it for granted that the director OF works
had obeyed him. He had been so busy
that he had not had time to see the d.
rector OF works in person as to what had
been done. A commissioner called the
attention of the director general to the
fact that the Objectionable piano was
still in the music hall. Col. Davis re-
piled that if this was true he did not
know it.
President Palmer. of the commission,
then read communication from Ferd
W. Peck, acting president of the Worlds
gentleman said, as a difference had
arisen regarding the conduct OF the
matter OF music, he had called a meeting
of the joint board of reference and con-
troll for April 30. In response to this
call the board had adopted resolution
to the effect that
The Matter of Difference
between the local directory and the ma
T1iS m
council of administration. Meantime
the council of administration completed
its investigation and sent in its report.
1t is said III effect that the council had
thoroughly investigated the piano ques
tion, and it had concluded the special
committees report adopted by the ma
tional commissioners last Friday by
which non-eXhibitorS' pianos were eX-
cluded, should not be the law in the
situation. If non-eXhibltorS' pianos
were excluded it would cause failure
of the musical programme in a large de-
gree. 1t further declared the carrying
out of such an order would not be for
the best interests either OF the piano ex-
hbitors or the fair. In conclusion, it
said the council of administration would
formulate rules to govern this matter.
This report was not kindly received
by large number Of the commission
ers. A heated and at times acrimonious
discussion lasting for an hour or more
followed. AS a result Commissioner
Burton, Of Kansas, offered a resolution
declaring that the council of admins
tratIOn had no jurisdiction i'll the piano
question, as it had never been legally
referred to that body. The resolution
was referred to the judiciary commit
ee, and the commission adjourned.
Used COmtraband Piano.
While the commission and council of |
administration were wrangling over the |
problem, the-first concert given at the
fair began and was concluded. Director
of Music Thomas and PadereWSki were |
both there, and used the piano which |
was made contraband, The piano eX-
hibitOrs were greatly eXaSperated over |
the matter, and, while none of them will |
withdraw, they express themselves in |
anything but pleasant terms regarding |
the turn matters have taken. They are |
awaiting the outcome of tomOrrow's |
meeting of the national commission |
with great anxiety.
No quorum being present today, the
judiciary committee of the national |
worlds fair commission adjourned until
tomorrow. Consequently the Sunday
closing issue was not passed upon.
Ticket sellers and takers had an easy
time of it today. The paid admissions
to the grounds were $4,000. In the park
there were about 100000 Supt. Tucker,
of the department of admissions, gave
out today the official statement that the
as near as he could ascer-,
tain. was $4,000. 1.-The methods Of
getting at the number of tickets used
by 'deadheads' are very crude. There
put down the number of free admis-
slonS at 100000, leaving the number
who passed 175,OOO. L consi der this
estimate"