Omaha daily bee., 1898-05-07

the board. He said there was another mat
ter which should also receive careful con-
sideration-the question OF cash premiums
for live stock exhibits. He referred briefly
to the Importance Of the live stock industry
to this section Of the country and then
turned again to the matter of a director
general. He said the question was one
which would not down. The board thought
Ii had settled the matter some months ago.
but 1t did not seem to be any nearer q solu-
tion than before.
He complimented the executive committee
on the efficient manner in which thanklcss
task had been accomplished. but there now
seemed to be a great difference OF opinion
in the executive committee with reference
to the necessity for director general. He
said he thought II was about time the mat
ter was brought before the whole board and
each member of the committee called upon
to give the reasons for his position. He
said that he did not desire to oust the men,
bers Of the committee or to curtail their
powers in any way. but he simply desired to
relieve the committee of the burdens i'm
posed on 1t and to make a more symmetr-
cal organization. He called attention TO the
fact that the representatives of the people
who will be here to see the exposition are
now on the ground and more are coming
every day and he deprecated the necessity
Of furnishing these people with grounds for
reports that the exposition management is
wrangling.
Goes Over Until Monday.
General Henderson said he would have a
poor opinion of a member Of the executive
committee who would resign in case the
board decided that a director general is
necessary. He had heard several statements
- al.uA l.. l.,A XI,.,,
not true.
In conclusion General Manderson insisted
that the executive committee should formu
late some plan for enlarging the powers Of
General Superintendent Foster. IL he should
be decided to be the man to be vested with
more power.
Mr.. Rosewater said there had been no
contention in the executive committee re-
garding the appointment OF a director gen.
eral and no proposition to appoint one. He
reviewed the events preceding the appoint
ment of Mr.. Foster as general superin
tendent and said that since that appoint
ment there seemed to have been a combi
nation to curtal his powers as much as
possible This had been carried so far that
Foster was a mere fgurehead, without
shadow Of authority in any department.
This state of affairs had forced the convc-
tion that this could not continue during
the exposition. "If Foster is not competent
to fulfill enlarged duties he should be dis
missed" said Mr.. Rosewater, "but the pres
ent state of affairs cannot be allowed to
continue without seriously menacng the ex-
position Already there are three different
departments on the grounds and soon there
will be five. The employees OF each Of these
departments are supreme and the result is
a conflict of authority which is causing
trouble and delay" The speaker detailed
q number of circumstances showing the
practical operation of such organization and
declared that the only solution was to have
some one in general power. This officer
should have control, under the executive
committee, over all the men on the grounds.
Mr.. Rosewater declared that no business
could be conducted successfully without an
executive head and such an officer in
business house or railroad or any other
great business does not abrogate the powers
Of the officers or directors.
A desultory discussion followed these
statements OF the situation, the consensus
OF opinion being that the time had arrived
for the concentration Of authority and re-
sponsibilty in one man who is to direct
and supervise affairs of all the departments
represented by subordinates on the grounds
and the motion to adjourn until Monday
afternoon was then carried without dis
senting voice.