Arizona republican., 1900-12-25


 All the towns and cities between Los Angeles and Denver were thoroughly billed by the committee and the rail- roads. All the territorial, Denver and California papers advertised the car nival fully and without charge. EX- ceptionally low rates were made by tn roads from all points. But the people did not come! They either lacked time. inclination or surplus money. One can choose for ones self. The Los Angeles people, especially, after making glitter ing promises, failed utterly to send rep resentation.
 The estimates of the receipts before carnival were based on the judgment of those who had managed previous car nivals in Phoenix. They were conser- vative and can be defended. The ex- penditures were carefully watched and guarded by the director general and the chairman of the finance committee, and we are sure that there have been no leaks and that full value has been received for all expenditures. Vouch- CTS covering every item of expenditure are on file at headquarters. readily ac- cessible. Likewise a complete set of books of account. These are for the inspection of the subscribers to the carnival fund, who are not only invited but urged to examine them personally. The auditing committee will make its report as soon as all transactions are closed
 The only salaries paid were to the manager, MT. Buckley, tper contracO the secretary, stenographer and nec ae.S, +..l,,-, ,F that nature. MT. Buckley's contract called for 10 per cent of the gross re- ceipts. In his settlement he voluntar- fly offered to accept, under the circum- stances nearly $100 less than was due him and which he could have collected by process of law from the committed
 Several subscribers to the fund have failed to pay their subscriptions. If they will do so, we will be behind less than S1,400.
 The committee has in storage about 1,G00 incandescent lamps and sockets, worth at wholesale about "A cents each; also decoration material and sundries. The lamps can be held for future use, or sold as seems advisable.
 Now as to the deficit. The commit tee has executed a joint note for $750 and guaranteed the overdraft of $174.S thus being personally responsible for $924.S0, which has gone to pay the hills of the association and which the com mittee must pay if not reimbursed Be- sides this there are, per statement, un- paid bills amounting to $59S, which must be paid promptly.
 The committee feels that as the car nival association Is composed of the business men of Phoenix who sub scribed to hold it, the executive com mittee being merely their agents in the matter, employed without pay to con duct the carnival, that it is manifestly unjust for the agents to bear the bur den alone of the debts of the principals The capital stock of the association Qf it may be regarded in that light) is represented by the amount subscribed, viz: sS,770. Were this a private enter prise, conducted by a stock corpora ton, the only means of meeting the debts would be an assessment on the stock pro rata. Why, in justice to every one, is not this the only honor able and equitable means of meeting this debt? If every subscriber wouli contribute 40 per cent of his subscrip-
  committee relieved from further re- sponsibility and be entitled to do what the subscribers are and have been do- ing, viz: attending to their legitimate business instead of neglecting it for carnival affairs without pay, thus los ing at both ends. While this seems the proper way to settle the matter, yet it would be burden on many of the sub scribers which would be felt The car nival was made possible by their money in the first place, and all the citizens will reap the benefits that may accrue.
 It is therefore just and proper that all good citizens of Phoenix should help to bear this burden irrespective of the fact whether they did contribute crig- inal!y or not, and the committee feels that this appeal to the sense of justice of our citizens willn ot be made in van.
 The debt must be paid. To let it re- main would be a blot on the fair name of our city. To force the committee to pay it would be something worse. | Those of our citizens who have had bills against the carnival have been paid promptly by the committees ac- tion in personally borrowing the money to do so. No goods were sold us at cost, nor was the price of labor re- duced. Many have made a profit by the carnival. Let them help it pay its honest debts-their claims having been paid.
 If the entire shortage is subscribed as above the carnival will have cost the citizens $5,200, total. This Is much less than previous ones have cost, and we must be allowed to say that no car nival ever held here had the number of events of this last one.
 Nothing has ever been held in Phoe- nix that has advertised us as much as this years carnival. There were six press photographers sent here from outside points to photograph details for production in eastern and western pa pers and magazines; likewise many correspondents. This cannot but be productive of good to our city.
 Respectfully.
 THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
 s. M. MCGOWAN,