The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1894-06-29
AN OPEN LETTER.
To THE PEOPLE OF MINNESOTA:

/
should make it's financial report pub
lie and through such publication in
form the taxpayers what disposition
had been made of the money placed
in their hands with which to make an
exhibition of Minnesota's interests at
the Worlds Fair.
The delay in making this report
public has resulted in many harsh,
unjust and inexcusably inaccurate
criticisms being published against my
self as superintendent of Exhibits.
[ have at various times urged upon
the commission the Importance of
publishing the report of the Secretary
and Treasurer,as these two officers are
the ones, and only ones, who are in
possession of the information which
is being demanded-that referring to
receipts and expenditures but up to
date a stolid silence has prevailed,
and as one who has been unjustly
censured for this seeming hardness [
am forced to state my relations to the
Board and my responsibilities to the
public, and shall then be content to
be judged on the evidence. There is,
or at least seems to be, a confusion ex-
listing in the minds of some as to the
real position | held on the Worlds
Fair Board and what my real duties
were. To make the situation clear,
unmistakable, unambiguous, and l
hope satisfactory, [ beg to call your
attention to the following sections of
the bylaws adopted by the Board Of
Managers at it's first meeting after
organization:
E.-DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.
The secretary shall conduct the correspon-
dence of the board and be the custodian of all
the document and records relating to its bust
ness He shall keep full and accurate record
of its proceedings, and shall make report of
same, from time to time, as he may be required.
He shall keep all the accounts of the board,
prepare all estimates of the expenses, services
and materials ordered by the board and certify
the same; and shall prepare and sign with the
president all acquisitions made upon the state
treasurer for funds which the board shall order.
All papers, accounts and records in his custody
shall at all times be open for inspection on the
demand of any member of the board.
vH.-DUTIEs OF THE TREASURER.
The treasurer shall be the custodian of all
moneys which shall be drawn from the state
treasury on requisition of the board in the man.
ner and form directed by the act of the legisla-
9th
moneys that may come into the possession of
the board from any source, and shall pay it out
only upon vouchers duly executed, which vouch-
ers shall be certified by the president and Sec
rotary of this board to be for services or mate.
rails authorized by vote of the board of mana
gers. The treasurer shall give bond to the
state in the penalty of fifty thousand dollars
($50,0OO) with sureties to be approved by the
governor, as directed in the act of the legisla-
ture constituting this board as aforesaid.
vuI--DUTIEs OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.
The executive officer of this board shall be
designated the superintendent of Minnesota
| Exhibit at the Columbian Exposition of 1898. >
| He shall be elected by this board by ballot and
hold his office at its pleasure. He shall receive
a compensation of two hundred dollars pei
month for the year commencing August 1st,
1891, two hundred and twenty-five dollars pei
month for the year commencing August 1st
| 1892, and three hundred dollars per month fol-
| the period from August 1st, 1898, to December
3lst, 1898, and he shall be allowed all necessary
expenses actually paid or incurred by him when
| absent from his home and while engaged in the
discharge of his official duties as such superin
tendent, excepting railroad fare, said expenses
not to exceed five dollars per day, payable
monthly on vouchers duly executed and approx
ed, as aforesaid, out of the appropriation made
by the legislature for the purposes of the Col
umbian Exposition of 1898. Said Superinten
tent shall be authorized and required to assume
and exercise, subject to the supervision of this
| board, all such executive powers and functions
as shall be necessary to secure complete anC
at the World Columbian Exposition of 1898
and as the executive agent of this board he
shall have personal charge of the solicitation
| collection, transportation, arrangement anC
ity of the state to said exposition, and of sucl
objects sent by individual citizens of the state
as may be by them placed in his charge HI
shall make report in writing to this board
monthly.
IX.-STANDING COMMITTEES.
| Committee on Finance and Auditing, consist
ing of three members, which shall have charge
of all matters pertaining to the expenditures o.