The St. Louis Republic., 1901-05-09
Special Correspondence of The Republic.

special Correspondence Of The Republic.
Buffalo. n. Y, May 1.-THE authorities
| of the Pan-Americsn Exposition Company.
| both those who draw salaries and those
who draw none. consider that their pres
ent organization is the ideal organization
for an exposition company.
The present working organization IS vast
ly different from the one that was planned
in the beginning, and provided for in the
bylaws 1t is the result of steady growth
toward the Capitalization Of power with a
few men. AS provided for In the origina,
bylaws the organization was dlffusive. 1t
comprised big committees with bureau to
each committee. Now, as the Exposition
is ready for its fruitiou. in many cases one
man exercises the powers which In the be-
ginning were conferred on a committee of
seventeen, to which was Joined a bureau Of
unlimited capacity.
On paper. the organization as provided
for In the bylaws still exists. but in opera
ton there are dead committees. whose work
Is performed by a single man often In con-
junction with other duties.
Cut down the number Of the committees
and their size and centralize the power" IL
the lesson Secretary Fleming Of the Expo
sition company draws from the develop
ment Of the organization OF the Pan-Amer-
lean Exposition Company.
Trace the development OF this orgnniza-
tion from Its bulky beginning, as provided
for In the bylaws. to Its present. smooth
running. work-a-day makeup.
Organization followed close on ircorpora-
tion. At a meeting OF the stockholders held
March Z. 1s99-less than two years before
the date set for the opening OF the Exposi-
tion-a code of bylaws was adopted pro-
wiling for Board OF Directors of twenty
Hve members. for regular monthly meetings
OF the board and for tho call of speciai
meetings by the president or secretary on
written request OF five directors. A quorum
was thirteen members. Vacancies were to
be hlled by majority vote OF the remain
ing directors. and absence without notice
to the secretary, from three consecutive
meetinga was equivalent TO resignation.
Two special restrictions were embodied in
the by-lhws relating to directors to prevent
the expenditure OF money through doubtful
channels. One was that as soon as n men,
Der OF the board accepted a salaried posi-
ton under the company his position on tho
board was by that net vacated. The other
was that "the company shall not enter into
any contract with n director"
The latter restriction was later changed
by adding. except where contracts are let
under competition. to the lowest bidder"
The officers under the corporation are
president. ten vice presidents. n secretary
ahu uedSurer. All tne3e, except the Sec
rotary. are members OF tho Board of d.
rctors. and draw no salary. The secretary
Is Edwin Fleming. q newspaper man. who
at the time Of his selection as secretary
was private secretary to the Mayor Of
Buffalo.
The duties Of the president are ito preside
at meetings OF the board and execute all
contracts and Instruments involving over
5000 in the name of the company"
Tho duties Of the treasurer are to have
the custody OF the funds. to keep q proper
system Of books to give stockholders notice
of calls for payments on their stock and
to make reports to the board. He is under
bond. and Is ex-ofiicio a member Of the
Finance Committee.
The secretary's duties are like those Of
any other corporation secretary.
The positions Of vice president are en-
tirely honorary. no duties being imposed on
them.
The most important of the committees