The morning call., 1894-04-17
Twenty-Five Cents for Sundays
and Evenings.
THE REVENUE NOT AFFECTED
Concessionaires Disappointed When
the Parent Committee Adjourns
Without Taking Any Action.

Office last night to listen to the report of
the special committee appointed to investl-
gate the management OF the Midwinter
Fair by the executive committee.
Mayor Elerl raped for order and said
the object of the meeting was to hear a
partial report of the special committee Of
five, whereupon Chairman McAfee read a
long typewriter document which en-
bodied The conclusions and recommends
tions of the committee. The report stated
that the committee had ascertained the
main features of the financial condition of
the fair. The details were so great that it
would take further time and explanation
to arrive at a conclusion satisfactorily ex-
planning every account, but with the
examination already made The committee
believed that the financial statement put
forth by the executive committee appeared
substantially correct.
After exhOrting the executive committee
to give due consideration 10 all complaints
and grievances made by all exhibitors The
report took up the question OF the admlS-
sion fee and said:
We believe that the financial success being
now substantially secured. some change OF
policy may be more reasonably considered and
undertaken than II there were grave doubt in
respect 10 such success. We therefore believe,
cede somewhat 10 the interests OF others than
the administrative department only. The eX-
hiborS and concesslonalres on one hand, and
the general public on the other, should come TO
have their share of the prospective success.
The exhibitors and cOncessiOnaires make up
the fair and the people support II. AS the fair
is intended for an exposition to enlighten the
people, and not for profit, neither those who
make Up the exposition nor those who support
1t should be burdened beyond what is necessary
10 make the fair success.
The revenues of the fair heretofore have
been derived chiefly from contributions OF the
people ana charges for space and privileges
from the exhibitors. These have been suffi-
Client 10 meet the main obligations. The
future income rests entirely upon the attend
ance, so that the question now is, "How 10 In.
crease the attendance?' There is no question
that an Increase of visitors is highly desirable
TO enla &c the benefits OF the fair. II the re-
ceipts are not thereby decreased; but II the re-
celpts are Increased there will be double
advantage.
How can greater number of people be in
duced 10 visit the fair than at present? We OF
course need not go into the question of attrac-
tiOns. We believe that the attractions now are
worth more than the price OF admission, and
that they will be varied by the executive COM
mittee from time TO time so as TO Keep up the
general interest of the public.
We Will confne ourselves entirely TO the
financial aspects OF the admission fee on the
lines already indicated. large number OF
people of small means contributed TO the fund
of over 100000. TO which the existence OF the
fair is due. They have received no considera-
ton for their contributions, and now the nDan-
clal success of the fair being assured they GER
tainly should have he opportunity of availIng
themselves of the benefit of the fair at mini
mum cost consistent with the success.
We believe that The labOring class OF the COM
munty. from whom the contributions above
referred TO largely came deserve a special con-
slderation In this connection, aud so cents ad-
mission for them, land especially for such Of
them as have large families, makes II burden
for them 10 visit he fair One visit is not suffi-
cient to see the fair fully and The necessary re-
peated visits increase this burden very largely
on them, so that we regard, under the aspects
OF the case thus presented, that some reduc-
tion III admissions Is due 10 the laboIiDg class.
They have but one day IN the week when they
can attend without losing their wages as well
as paying the admission, aud that day is Sun
day.
People with more leisure and of larger
means appreciate the fair. and are perfectly
willing to support it to the fullest extent, yet
there is no doubt that even they would visit
he fair more frequently II a reduced admission
were offered them, which would not materially
reduce the revenues of the fair. Ii is evident,
also, that an increased number of visitors will
add 10 the benefit OF the exhibitors aud conces-
mend that the charge for admission be reduced
To 20 cen for grown people aud 10 cents for
children ON Sundays, and on each evening OF
the week from o'clock, beginning from April
22. 1894.
The report also recommended the giving
buildings and the placing of lights at the
north entrance. which was said to be a
source of detriment to the people.
The report also gave the figures recently
ppbIished in TIE CALL showing that 70
per cent of the attendance came from San
Francisco and vicinity. and concluded by
calling on every citizen in the State to sup
port the enterprise In every way possible.
The report was signed by Charles A. Laton
(chairman), l.. c. McAfee (secreiary), viii
E. Fisher, C. Z. Grunsky ana M. johnson.
AS soon as the report was read Dr.
Regens burger moved that consideration OF
the document be laid over until the next
meeting. The suddenness of this motion
acted as mild thunderbolt, for every one
appeared dazed for moment.
"Tbe next meeting of this committee is
somewhat Indefinite" said Mayor Elert,
land the exhibitors and people are anxious
for some conclusion on this matter"
"What are your reasons for such mo-
ton ?" inquired ex-Sheriff McMann.
"We ought to have time 10 consider the
subject" returned DIR. Rcgens nsburger.
| don't believe in taking snap judgment"
"There is no snap judgment here" in
terposed Mayor Ebert, warmly. Every
member received due and proper nolifica-
tion."
zine essence of the report is on the re-
ductioH oil the ADMISSION lee, SAID MIR.
McMann, land l think we ought to act on
the recommendation Immediately. The
question of the adoption OF the report
ought TO be put and discussed"
Sam Shortridge attended the meeting
without hi, mustache, for that ornament
had gone where the wo0doine twineth,
but he brought his voice with him in all
its snnorousness.
IL thought we were gathered TO hear a
financial statement" he said, but can
not see that the committee has given us
what we wanted. / am not prepared to
vote Oh the reduction question, as l have
not seen The necessary financial data.
That is why l think the matter should be
postponed"
"This is an important matter" said
Wendell Easton. 1--WE must make o IL s.
take, for the responsibility will rest on our
shoulders. Ii we make a reduction and
the fair fails, are we prepared 10 back up
our Judgment by creating fund to make
up any deficiency? When | think OF the
500, 900 spent by the executive committee
| DO not think of how it has spent the
S34o, 900 raised from the people. but where
1t got the rest. Let US act with caution,
and fully know the whole financial situa-
ton from the experts report before we
take any action"
Several members asked Mr.. McAfee
about the finances.
aprhav anpear IN he correct" he an