The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-20
CRITICISM OF PECK.
Americans Say Harsh Things of the
Commissioner General.

| NEW YORK, Aug. 1s.--Indwls Nissen.
| President of the Manufacturers Assosia-
ton. who has Just returned from the Paris
Exposition, is ecathing in his arraignment
of Commissioner General Peck, who he
| declares is incompetent.
'Mr. Peck seems TO be very unpopular
with all Americans over there said Mr..
Nissen yesterday. especially with those
who are there as exhibitors, many OF
whom l have heard denounce him in
strong terms. They complain that prom
ises of space and position for exhibits
have not been kept, ard that many ex-
hibits have not been Installed where the
diagrams provided, but have been merely
thrown into cases haphazard
1T was said, moreover, that Mr.. Peck
was employing many of his relatives and
sons of favorites at large salaries, for
which these young men seemingly psr-
formed no duties at all. except 10 partici-
pate in S>cal functions"
Mr.. Niszan also spoke of the official
visit of President Loubet to the United
States Pavilion, saying:
There we're a great number of Ameri-
cans who wanted to enjoy the pleasures
Of that public reception. but 1t was an abso-
lutte failure on account of the absence of
Mr. Peck or any OF his representatives,
and IL 1t was not an intentional slight on
the part of the principal representative to
the Exposition from the Unitsd States then
it certainly was a convincing exhibitic of
the slipshod manner in which Mr.. Peck
performed his Guties''
William Harry Sayen. State Commits
sioner from Pennsylvania to the Paris Ex-
position. returned yesterday on the steam
ship Lucania. of the Cunari Line. ae-
companied by his wife and sons They
left Paris On May rs. and since then have
been making tour of the Continent Eng
land and Scotland. Mr. Sayen was in
Paris for about a week and at that time
the Exposition was in an unfinished state
he said that as representative of the
State of Pennsylvania he was treated with
scant courtesy by the Commissioner Cen
eral, Ferdinand Peck. who acted in a most
arrogant manner
When | went to Paris I saw Commits
sfoner General Peck and showed him my |
commission from the Governor of Penn |
sylyania.' he added MIR. Peck told me |
that he was a United States official. and |
recognized no authority except the United |
States If the Governors Of the different |
States chose TO appoint commissioners |
that was their affair. I am afraid I |
might express my opinion in this matter |
too strongly for publication. Commissions |
er General Peck certainly did not act like |
an American. nor, did he welcome Ameri- |
cans In fact. to me the impression was |
that one was not welcome
1t has been reported from the other |
side that the many State and other Off |
Gals have caused annoyance TO the Com |
missioner General in their endeavors to
get Invitations to different affairs What |
IS the truth Of these reports?" was asked |
L cannot answer that. For myself | |
asked Commissioner Peck for nothing. and |
expected nothing from him except good |
treatment. / paid my way into the Elk. |
position when / went. as did elsewhere. |
What 1 did want was the freedom of the /
Pennsylvania section. and On account of
the treatment received. l did not go near
the United States section
The Exposition when was there was
In an unfinished state, and dust and 6irt
were everywhere. The Exposition was
nothing to compare to that held in Chicago
In fact. the only things which could COM
pare with that exhibition were the art /
palace and the new bridge over the Seine
Living in Paris is very expensive. OF
course. some Of the side shows and catch |
pennies do not live strictly up to what
they announce. For example. on the NOV
ng pavement one is told that he can re-
main all day for the price of admission.
At the ether end. however. are doors Of
Exit, and once you get by those doors
without knowing it. you are politely told
hat you cannot return without another
price
''of the places | visited abroad I was
Mostly impressed by Scotland. There they
lave the most magnificent lakes and noun
ain scenery, and the finest whisky in the
world. except the United States. France,
italy, and the other countries NAV have
heir splendid paintings. their art galleries
md sculptures but we have the Deople !
There is nothing like the Anglo Saxon
ace
Mr.. Sayen was met at Quarantine By a
ug. which contained 4 party of friends
leaded by Hampton Moore. secretary to
he mayor Of Philadelphia. They are mem
,ers CT club founded by Mr.. Sayen. and
allied the Bold Buccaneers of Barnegat.
Zach member wears a badge adorneslDby
skull and crossbones and lettered ''B- B.
B." !,
Nr. Sayen and his friends went promptly
o Philadelphia.