The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-19
SCRIP ISSUED II OMAHA.
CONFUSION HAD NO PoWEn 10
PAwx THE STATES CREDIT.


Special Dispatch to the Post-inselssgencef.
OLYMPIA. March ss.-The credit % TIE
atate OF Washington has been attacked IN
= manner which demands that the cascun-
stances surrounding il should be thorough
II exploited and the state set Alright
At the session Of the legislature Of Isss
commission. representing the Transmississ-
ippt exposition. appeared before the legs
lature and asked that an appropriation De
made In order that Washington should be
properly represented a. the exposItion-
The legislature did ne. see fif TO make an
appropriation. and In was thought the mai
ter would end there. But George w
Thompson Of Tacoma twao has since diedl.
appeared before the governor and asked
that he be appointed an UNOFFICIAL commits
siaGer from this state. After some time
the governor uaesnclaIly appointed Thoinp-
son. giving him TO understand explicitly
that the state would not D. responsible fer
a single cent Of indebtedness should ne con-
tract any. Thompson had made arrange
ments with the railroads and other private
corporations for contributions with which
To make an exhibit at the Omaha fair. He
further did what he had no right to d.
appointed commissioners In various parts
OF the state. and dubbed them collectively
the Washington state commission. That
Thompson appointment Was not Official is
evident from the fact that the governors
records have not a pm scratch 10 show he
was a state agent. Ii was never for
moment supposed until recently that this
alleged commission had used the name of
the state Ia contracting bills and not pay
ing them.
IL has Jus. come TO light. however, that
bills against the state 20 the amount of
f..1 or Ss.go9 have been presented. ard
thar In this connection the credit OF the
state IL being attacked. In one bill for SNs.
said 10 be due the secretary of the Omaha
exposition. this gentleman piqued at not
getting the money. calls the state a re-
padiator- Bills were contracted by this
commission. also with the Omaha Bee and
the World for large amounts and with vari-
Gus other parties. The method adopted by
the commission was the issuance of scrip,
which vas TO be redeemab.e By an appro-
priation 10 be made BY the legislature OF
1889. although what authority was ever
granted for such a purpose is no. apparent.
On March 3 the publishers Of the Omaha
Bee teiegrapaed the governor that many
merchants of Omaha hold scrip issued by
your exposition commission. accepted In
good faith upon contracts duly carried out.
Every consideration of Justice demands It's
redemption. and the states good name is
Ia point when it resorts 10 reputation"
The governor In reply TO this rather re-
markabie communication wired the Bee
publishers that the state had had no au-
thorszed commission representing * at
Omaha. the legislature having refused al
appropriation.
Another letter from Hon. j. A Wakefield,
secretary Of the Omaha commission pro-
voked the following reply from Gov. Rog-
ers, which fully explains the position of the
state in the matter and relieves Washing
ten OF the charge OF reputation:
olympia, March H. 1903
Hen. John A. Wakefield. Secreta
Transmlssiss.ppi and International Expo
81 ~ - -
letter or March at hand.
Replying 70 same, will say that the
Washington legislature of 1887 refused 10
make any appropriation for exhibition
purposes at the Omaha exposition. Blu; In
order that private citizens living In the
state might organize to. present Wash
ington's advantages al the exposition. |
appointed tuuosliciallyl Mr. George ".
Thompson, OF Tacoma. as honorary com
missioner such appointment being. of
course. entirely unofficial and having no
forces tn law. Mr.. Thompson. private ~
aistdual. organized what might have been
called the Washington exposition commits
sion. bat he had no authority To bind the
state ID any way No person In this state
was aware that she Washington commits
sion had involved the good name or credit
of the state. or thst debts had been In
Cured by the commission.
.At the meeting OF the legislature Of
fSa this WAS fer the first time discovered
and an atfemp; made 10 secur. an
appropriation fer the payment OF claims
sion. The legislature however. refused,
and 40 the matter stands
at may thus be said tina; the state hal
no commission aaa is net responsible for
the debts Of private individuals Yours
very truly, JOHN r. ROC
Governor of Washington
Az 20 just who is responsible sor the
issuance of this scrip Il ls not possible ia
say now hut undoubtedly an investiga-
ton WI he made and the blame placed
properly where IL belongs