The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-31

under the management and control Of the
local company. 1t will be incumbent upon
the National Commission to approve the
site upon which the Exposition will be con-
Quoted. and to exercise a general super
vision. within the limits Of the authority
mission is appointed. Beyond these general
say"
Ex-senator Thurston said:
1.-The Government Commissioners have not
very much to do in the way Of initiating
plans or procedures for the Fair. Under
the bill, they are to organize. select Of
local officials. The latter, of course, ere
to have the whole laying out of the Fair
and expenditure of the money, subject to
Commissioners. The latter must approve
the location and laying out of the grounds:
I suppose, In a measure. the expenditure CT
the 100000 o raised by the Fair people
must be approved by the commissioners he.
cause the Federal appropriation Of 100000
is only to be paid over to the Exposition
people when they have expended, and we
certify that they have expended, the $le'-
VIII open an once in st. Louis.
w will organize very soon and estab-
dent Of the Commission and secretary, and
be In shape to take up business with the
local management. Under the law the Com
missioners are to select a secretary at 5000
a year. Under the existing appropriation
they will have only $4,000 to pay for clerk
hire and Office expenses. Outside Of the pay
for Office rent. they will probably have a
stenographers. and, possibly, an assistant
secretary"
Senator Lindsay of Kentucky is the only
member Of the Commission who has had
previous experience with an exposition. He
was on the Commission which supervised
the Chicago Worlds Fair. Mr.. Lindsay
said to The Republic correspondent;
same relation to the St. Louis Exposition
Company as that held by the National Com
mission to the Chicago Exposition Com
er in number and. therefore, is likely to
be able to discharge its supervisory and
coordinate duties with much more facilit;:
than the large body representing the Gov
eminent at Chicago.
Until the commission organizes and
comes into contact with the st. Louis
company it is impossible to enter into any
thing like a detailed statement of what its
powers and duties may be"
Defense of Boards Make Up.
Although there has been some criticism in
Eastern papers of the personnel Of the COM
mission, the board as a whole Is looked
upon with favor by disinterested people.
The chief objection urged has been that
too many ex-senators and ex-Representa-
however. that the local management will
not find it embarrassing to have dealings
with men who are used to public life and
WIZ udfe Out6IOWH luC NcSIIc " Inquire ia
the papers as parties to some trifing con-
troversy. This view was expressed very
emphatically Saturday by a Commissions
who will be one of the most active mem
bers of the board.
az could name many excellent business
men of my acquaintance" said he. who
have been very successful as nanufac-
turers or merchants, They might be sup
posed to have especial qualifications for
such work and yet be very disappointing il
selected. Such men are apt to be opinion
ated and to think that because they have
prospered in business they know 1t all.
Things must go their way or there is fric-
ton and a desire to rush before the pub
lie and state their views about %trifies. The
result of this would be that an apparent
contention would be going on constantly be-
tween the local management and the Com
missioners. and this would not be well for
the Exposition. Whatever objection might
be raised to the appointment of congress-
men, at least they are used to public af-
fairs and as a rule are free from a vain
desire to figure in controversies. In fact.
their practice is to avoid difficulties and to
smooth over slight troubles and conplica-
tons. To this extent the st. Louis people
will profit by the personnel Of the Commits
sion."