The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1900-08-27
COMMISSIONER PECK.

Probably our representatives. abroad
ambassadors, ministers. consuls, and mar
ucularly commissioners to foreign conn
tries. are scrutinized more closely and crit
icised more severely than is the case with
the average government official at home.
Their distance, perhaps, lends added in
terest to any circumstances concerning
them which the American public is on
titled to know, and on that account. no
doubt, the newspaper eye is kept more
closely upon them for the publics benefit.
Commissioner Ferdinand w. Peck. the
Chicagoan who is the leading representa-
tive OF the United States at the Paris Ex-
position by virtue of some special political
pull" has had a fair share of that sort
of criticism which does not result in the
pleasantest sort Of notoriety, and il seems
from all accounts that the end is not Vet
In the first place there came some very
positive reports of the dissatisfaction of
American exhibitors on account of their
difficulty in obtaining space in the Amer
lean building because. as was charged
the space was being sold. These reports
were Just as positively denied; neverthe-
less they left an unpleasant impression
Then there was complaint Of the alleged
extravaganza of the commissioner in max
ing away with the fund allowed for keep
ing up the American building. which. as
will be remembered almost led 10 con-
gressional investigation. Later on when
President Loubet paid an official visit to
the American pavilion. the commissioner
who, of all others. should have been on
hand to receive him, seemed TO have i'm
portant business elsewhere, and President
Loubet had 10 go ii alone"
More recently Commissioner Peck has
been the subject of some tart criticism on
the part of President Nissen of the Man
ufaoturcrs' Association of New York, vino
asserts that he is an incompetent" Mr..
Nissen states that Mr.. Peck is unpopular
with the American exhibitors. with many
of whom he is said 70 have broken faith
in the matter of promises of space, and
he qualities by the phrase 'it is said" the
statement that Commits Toner Peck has en-
ployed his relatives aud the sons of favor
ties at large salaries. the earning of which
consists in attending social functions. In
defending Air. Peck from this attack Sec
rotary Griffith of the New York State
Commission simply refers to the vote of
thanks" that was rendered the commits
soncr by that body
Now there comes an amusing story about
the commissioner. which may lead to more
trouble. Recently as was announced in
the press dispatches, Commissioner Peck
was houored by the French government
with a decoration. the badge Of the Lee
gion OF Honor The story is told that
Mr.. Peck wore the decoration on return
ing TO his hotel from the Sale DIES Fetes,
and there proudly showed it to the head
waiter. asking him If he had ever seen a
decoration before, and remarking TO the
amused servant that similar honor Mad
been paid 90 Germans and Italians and TO
distinguished men OF other countries. but
never before TO an American. The French
man who told the story said such an ac-
ton was In exceedingly bad taste. and
declared that others similarly decorated
never forget that II Is their country that
f. honored aud not tho Individual IL
seems that Mr. Peck, in accepting tho
decoration. hns overlooked the constitu.
flonai prohibition against any official repre-.
sentative Of the United States accepting
any decorntion from any foreign sovereign
or government unless specially authorized
20 30 % by Congress. f. may be- that
Congress viii come 10 Sir. Pocka rescue,