Omaha daily bee., 1897-06-20
PETITION SUPREME COURT
Exposition Directors Ask for Speedy
Decision on the City Charter.
IMPORTANT AFFAIRS AT A STANDSTll
Resolution is Adopted by n imam
imous Vote Calling the Courts
Attention to the Inter-
ests Involved.

court to take action on the Omaha charter
case at the earliest possible moment and
presenting the reasons why an early decision
| was desirable was unanimously adopted by
the board of directors OF the Transmissis-
! sippi exposition at a meeting held yesterday
| afternoon. The ma ter had been discussed
at meeting OF the executive committee on
| the previous day and all the directors were
| familiar with the emergency. Consequently
there was no debate and the resolution as
| submitted by President Wattles was imme-
| diately adopted as follows:
Whereas, The uncertainty as to the
validity of the present city charter is
| terests of the city and to the prospects
| of the exposition, and until the city and
| the exposition are advised as to which
| charter is the law 1t will not be possible
| to proceed with important municipal and
exposition affairs; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Board of Directors That
| the management of the exposition petitions
| the supreme court of Nebraska to treat
! the charter litigation as urgent and ex-
sibie moment 50 that the uncertainty
may be ended
Resolved That the president forward a
copy of these resolutions to each of the
judges of the supreme court
MIR. HITCHCOCK RESIGNS.
The resignation of G. NJ Hitchcock as
manager Of the Department of Promotion
was rendered on the ground that his private
business occupied his time to such an ex-
tent that he was unable to give the neces-
sary attention to exposition mattere Mr.
Hitchcock stated that he had only accepted
the position under protest and now that
the work well in hand he desired to
be relieved of its responsibilities. He rec
ommended that President Wattles be as
signed to the head of the Department of
Promotion.
G. f. Weller moved that the resignation
be not accepted. He said that there WAS
much yet to be done by this department
and Mr.. Hitchcock should not be allowed
to drop out at this stage of the proceedings
John G. Wharton also declared the mad
visibility of changing horses in the middle
of the stream. Others expressS- the same
sentiment and urged that President Wattles
was fully occupied without having this de-
partment added to his official duties
Mr.. Hitchcock moved as an amendment
that the resignation be accepted. This was
voted down and Mr. Wellers motion pre-
vailed.
In accordance with a request from the
secretary Of the gold mining convention
which will meet in Denver in July, the
board decided to send delegates to the con
vention. President Wattles suggested the
idea of paying the expenses Of delegates and
on motion of Mr. Weller ii was orde eel chat
transportation should be furnished by :hr
directory. but that other expenses must he
paid by the delegates.
Manager kirkendall of the Department Of
Buildings and Grounds notified the board
OF progress already made and thu; the de.
partment wished to advertise for 500, 900
worth Of work the last of this month, and
for as much more by the middle of July. On
.hs account it was necessary that moe
funds should be provided, as it would DC
Impossible to induce good contractors to bid
on close margins unless there was a fair
proportion of the money in the treasury. Mr.
kirkendall also inclosed n communication
from the acting supervising architect in
charge of the Government building which
stated that 1t was necessary to have some
further data as to the general design of the
building before the drawings could be COM
pleted. 1t was stated that the building
erected for the government exhibit at Nash
vile covered As 200 square feet, 81 500 feet
being available for exhibits. 1t was de,
sirable that the exhibit space at Omaha
should be at least u per cent greater and
the preliminary study was based on that
figure. The main building was to have a
general height of forty or fifty feet with
dome over all and the additions at each
end height of twenty-five to thirty feet
TO EXPEDITE COLLECTIONS.
In this connection President Wattles sub
mitted the resolution recommended by the
executive committee which provided for
per cent discount In favor of stockholders
who were willing to pay up their entire
subscription at once. There was a slight
difference of opinion on this poirt. Mr..
Weller and others thought that the discount
was unnecessary and Mr.. Wattles aud Mr..
Wells Of Council Bluffs argued that people
who were willing to lose the interest on
their money by paying it now should be
entitled to a discount just the same as in
a mercantile transaction
This led into a protracted discussion of
the financial situation. All directors agreed
that more money should be raised but some
advised an additional assessment of 20 per
cent on stock in preference to the proposed
discount.
The resolution was finally amended to
apply only to the 35 per cent of stock that
will not be assessable until 1898, and then
Mr.. Hitchcock offered a substitute authoriz-
ing the executive committee to adjust the
matter giving the committee authority to
levy the 20 per cent assessment If it was
deemed advisable. -..
The substitute also authorized the execu-
tive committee to fill any vacancy occurring
on the committee. There was no second
and the original resolution was adopted as
previously amended .-.
Another 20 per cent assessment on stock
was then voted, to be payable August J.
This covers all the stock that can be as
sessed before January 2, 1898.
After some discussion of the matter of col
lections Mr.. Wharton suggested that some
man of business standing should be selected
to go to the heavier subscribers and induce
them to pay up, but no final action was
taken in that direction.
LABOR QUESTION AGAIN
At the request of the labor unions Fred NJ
Youngs brought up the labor question and
the resolution directing the executive com
mittee to insert a stipulation in all con-
tracts that only union labor should be en-
ployed.
C. w. Lyman offered a substitute which
provided that the executive committee in
giving employment, should give the prefer
ence to stockholders In the exposition, re-
serving 10 per cent OF their wages to pay
the amounts due on their subscriptions.
Several members opposed the Lyman reso-
luton. and Mr.. Youngs moved that 1t be
laid over until the next meeting in order
that the labor unions might have an oppor-
tunity to consider it,
Governor Saunders urged that the labor
question should be left in the hands OF the
executive committee without hampering the
committee by instructions.
Both resolutions were then referred to
the executive committee without recon-
mendation and Mr.. Youngs Immediately
offered his resolution again and moved its
adoption. He urged that the Omaha con-
tractors had agreed to employ nothing but
union labor, and the resolution was neces- |
sary TO protect Omaha interests against out
side competition.
Lucius Wells moved that the resolution
be indefinitely postponed He said that the