Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-07-01


mississippi exposition at the final meeting
Of the board of directors last night follow
ing an informal dinner at the Omaha club
The members of the directory who were
present we're:
Gurdon w. Wattles. L. II. Korty.
y. II. Lindsay j, r. Markell.
f. z. Kirkendall. e. F. Yost
Edward Rosewater. r. s. Wilcox,
A. l.. Reed c. NJ. Wilhelm.
E. e. Bruce. Thomas Kiipa trick.
Herman Kountze G. NJ. Hitchcock.
Frank Murphy. G.. NJ Hussey.
G. w. Holdrege. Charles Metz.
e. w. Lyman. ]. II. Evans.
Walter Jardine. l. w. Carpenter
J. j. Johnson.
In addition there were present as guests.
who have been more or less identified with
the exposition, John A. Wakefield. Thomas
r. Kimball, Henry Rustin and Victor
Rosewater
Recalls Phases of Work.
Aside from the business transacted the
gathering was turned into an experience
meeting, with short addresses recalling
different phases of the work by which the
success of the exposition chad been
achieved. Those who contributed to the
speech making OF the evening, besides
President wattles, included Chief Elec-
Kimball, Secretary Wakefield, Treasurer
Herman Kountze, Counsel G. S. Montgom-
cry and each member who served on the
executive committee who was present,
namely: Messrs. Lindsay, Rosewater,
Reed, Kirkendall, Bruce and Hitchcock.
From the narratives Of the speakers a gen.
eral survey was had Of the history Of the
exposition and the work OF the various de-
partments together with comparisons with
other expositions held before and after
1898, all redounding to the glory Of the
Omaha enterprise.
Report of Audit Committee,
In the formal business transacted was
the receipt and acceptance of the following
report from the special committee on audit
through its chairman, Thomas Fitzpatrick:
I send you on behalf OF the auditing
committee what may be considered it's final
report The same consists Of three papers,
marked respectively "a" 'B' and &c"
and hfty.two other reports, numbered from
one to fifty-two, inclusive.
/ also enclose you statement, Homewhat
in the form of an index. showing what
these fifty-five papers refer to.
These papers were submitted to j. Z:
Wharton, c. w. Lyman, q. H. Payne and
E. C. Price. the other members of the com
mittee. You will notice that Mr.. Lyman,
in letter which 1 enclose, calls attention
to reports Nos 45. 46 and 49,. and l may
say that these reports contain about all all
report. 1t is the unanimous opinion OF the
committee that even these show only cleri-
cal errors, blunders and defective book
keeping and though all the work appears
in the name of John A. Wakefield, It is
we'll known to the committee that these
as his time was more than occupied with
other important duties in connection with
the, exposition. II is also known to the the
economy on the part Of the executive com
mittee led them to appprton work TO MT
Wakefield which properly belonged to a
separate department and which should have
been from the beginning under the manage
ment of a competent auditor.
1t will be remembered by the board or
directors that there were vague reports as
TO loose management and perhaps fraud
in connection with the several departments
of the exposition, and 1t was for that
reason that the auditing committee was
appointed.
Compliments for Ofhcers.
It therefore affords me great pleasure to
say upon behalf of the auditing committee
that after most thorough and painstaklng
investigation, both by the committee itself
and nv its paid agent w. 8. Streeter, we
failed to find any fraud or mismanagement
in any of the departments and we are
satisfied that the success and honest man
agement OF the enterprise on the part or
subordinates were due 10 the close atten-
ton business ability and integrity OF the
president the executive committee and the
II seems to the auditing committee like
presumption to even mention the president
and executive committee in this report, hut
inasmuch as the duties OF the committee
covered an investigation OF all connected
with the management of the exposition, we
feel IL to be a duty, as well as pleasure
10 saw that we know them to have per-
formed their arSsS Saw and t hs best
of the exposition and with absolute IN
tegrity.
Medals for Executive Omcers.
On motion OF John c. Wharton and fol-
lowing some most commendatory remarks
regarding the unselhsh devotion Of the
president and members OF the executive
committee, who had served the exposition
faithfully for so many months without COM
pensation Of any kind, a medal was or
dered struck and copies in gold presented
to the president and his executive asso-
ciates as a souvenir Of the exposition. The
duty Of selecting the design for the medal
and executing the order Of the board was
entrusted to a committee consisting OF
John A. Wakefield, J. c. Wharton and @. NJ
Hitchcock.
Announcement being made that more thar
81, 400 remained in the treasury with nc
claims outstanding this surplus was or
dered disposed of subject to the action
already taken in conformity with the rec
ommendation OF the executive COMMITTEES
embodied in the following report:
The executive committee beg leave to re
port that all lawful claims against thu
Transmississippi and International eNposi
tion have been fully paid and that there
remains on hand the sum OF 40. Th'
committee believing II impracticable to dis
tribute this balance among the large mum
Der OF its shareholders and recognizing the
efficient services OF John A.. Wakefield
secretary OF the corporation. hereby recon-
mends that this balance be paid to th'
secretary as additional compensation fo
his services in the past and in full for hi
work for the compilation OF a statement o.
! the affairs OF the exposition, including
recital OF the inception, organization. opera
| ton mana cement and results Of the exposi
| ton, which statement shall be submitted b,
him TO a committee consisting of Charles
| Lyman, c. S. Montgomery and Edward
| Rosewater, to be revised and approved b!
| them and afterward filed I'm the publil
| library OF the city Of Omaha or published
| by private subscription or by any corpora
/ ton firm or individual. having first Oh
tained the consent and approval Of tn
above named committee, said publication
to be without expense OF liability TO thi
corporation, Eg
1t was explained that the above state
ment would be incorporated in a repor