Chapter XXXIV: Introduction (2)

In reply, I am authorized by the Commission to say that the
Exposition Company, speaking through its president, has
intimated that the executive committee of the company will
present a request to the Commission for the suspension of the
rule referred to, to the end that a lady residing in the city of
St. Louis may be appointed a member of the board of lady
managers, under such suspension of the rule.

This request, we are advised, will be presented by the company
to-day, and the Commission is disposed to suspend the rule by
unanimous consent in conformity to the request when presented,
and to appoint the lady recommended by the executive committee
of the company. You will be advised of the action of the
Commission on the subject under consideration the earliest
practicable moment.

Very respectfully,
THOMAS H. CARTER, _President_.

MISS ANNA L. DAWES,
_Chairman of Committee,
Board of Lady Managers._

On December 18 the following letter was received from the president of the National Commission on the same subject:

ST. Louis, _December 17, 1903._

MADAM: By direction of the Commission I am authorized to
acknowledge receipt of your resolution recommending that the
Commission suspend the rule restricting the membership of the
board of lady managers, to the end that an appointment may be
made of a representative from the city of St. Louis. In reply
thereto you are informed that the rule referred to can not be
suspended, save by the joint action of this Commission and the
Exposition Company. The Commission feels indisposed to initiate
any movement looking to its suspension. If requested by the
Exposition Company to suspend the rule for the purpose of naming
some lady residing in St. Louis, recommended by the Exposition
Company, the Commission would probably, by unanimous consent,
suspend the rule for that purpose.

Very respectfully,
THOMAS H. CARTER, _President._

MRS. DANIEL MANNING,
_President Board Lady Managers._

As no decision could be reached by the executive committee of the Exposition Company in regard to a choice of representative from the city of St. Louis on the board of lady managers, the board felt the necessity of selecting a president from its existing membership, and at the next session, on December 16, 1903, again held in the Administration Building, Mrs. John M. Holcombe moved that "we proceed at once to elect a president of this board."

Mrs. Buchwalter, the chairman, stated that it was in order to proceed with the election of a president of the board, and asked for nominations. Miss Helen M. Gould spoke as follows:

I would like to nominate Mrs. Daniel Manning for this office.
Mrs. Manning has had large experience in matters of this kind as
head of the Daughters of the American Revolution, having resided
in Washington as the wife of one of the members of Mr.
Cleveland's cabinet, and in representing our country abroad,
having been one of our representatives at the Paris Exposition.
I understand that Mrs. Manning is one of two women from this
country who received the decoration from the French Government,
and I take pleasure in nominating her for the office of
president of this board. This nomination was seconded by several
members, and, as no other nominations were made, the tellers
announced the result of the vote: For Mrs. Manning, 13 votes:
one blank, Mrs. Manning not voting.

The chairman then thanked the members of the board for the sympathy and help they had given her.

In reply the secretary extended to Mrs. Buchwalter the sincere thanks of the members of the board for the efficient work she had performed as their first vice-president and honorable chairman, and Miss Dawes spoke for the entire board in expressing her thanks to Mrs. Buchwalter for her impartiality, confidence, good management, and elegance in presiding.

Mrs. Daniel Manning, the newly elected president, then took the chair and thanked the board for the honor conferred upon her.

The order of business was then proceeded with, and, pursuant to a wish expressed by the National Commission to meet the board of lady managers, the members of the Commission were announced and Mrs. Manning said:

Mr. President, and Gentlemen of the Commission: We understood
that you would graciously come over and talk with us a little
while. We are starting in on a new lease of life. We want to
work for the exposition to the best of our ability. We want your
advice and wish to consult you about a number of matters, but,
first, we would like to hear from you.

President Carter responded as follows:

Madam President and Ladies: We have come to say a few words to
you and to have you consult with us upon any subjects you desire
to bring up. I do not know how graciously we have come, but we
come very cheerfully. The subject of your remark has been under
consideration for a long time and we all regret that a more
definite conclusion has not been reached relative to the sphere
of your activity in connection with the World's Fair. I think
your report, the report of your committee, of which Mrs.
Montgomery is chairman, and which she recently submitted,
crystallizes into close compass about the line of action the
board might appropriately pursue. The report referred to dealt
not only with the conclusion reached, but the details whereby
those conclusions were reached. It included discussions, formal
and informal, and certain correspondence relating to the
subject. The Commission has approved that report in so far as it
prescribed in definite form the sphere of your work, and, with
the approval of the Commission, that report has been forwarded
to the local company. These resolutions or statements made by
your board, which in your judgment would constitute a proper
sphere of action, seem to embody a field sufficiently broad to
be worthy of your intentions. It was hoped by the Commission
that during the present session of the board, the members of the
local company, together with the Commission, would be present
for a conference--more informal than formal--which might result
in a correct and definite understanding as to just what you were
to do, and how you were to do it.

The only conclusion which has been reached is that which gives
you a contingent fund, which seems to have been adequate for the
meager necessities of the past, but I believe that up to this
hour the exact part your board is playing in connection with
making this exposition a success, is far too indefinite to be
satisfactory to you, and it is certainly not satisfactory to the
Commission. Our Commission will adjourn to meet on the 10th of
January, and we hope by that time to be in receipt of some
communication from the Exposition Company announcing their
disposition of the report I have referred to, and the scope of
the work of the board of lady managers. Notwithstanding that
will be at a very late date, it is well to have it in sight.

The ladies of your board have been engaged without much credit
being given to the board or to the ladies themselves, in the
work of exploitation. A number of the ladies have done most
efficient work in their respective States--and some, in the
adjoining States--calling the attention of the people at large,
and in some instances the legislative sessions, to the vastness,
scope, and policy of the exposition. It is unfortunate that your
board does not receive the credit which this line of meritorious
effort deserves. In the end, I doubt not, that in the final
reports you will be accorded full measure of credit for what you
have done individually and collectively. The past has been
devoid of results because of a lack of understanding to start
with. I think you are now beginning an era more promising than
any outlook you have had in the past. I congratulate you upon
having reached a condition of harmony within your own
organization, which speaks well for the future. The earnestness
of this board, the disinterestedness of its members, leading
them in the first instance to volunteer their services to this
great enterprise, has been an example to the whole country of
national devotion, which has been of great advantage to the
exposition management; your gratuitous and earnest effort has
been a means of making the exposition favorably known throughout
this country, at least. Your expenses have been very light--I
believe, up to this time, less than $20,000, in the neighborhood
of $20,000--which, considering the long distances traveled, and
the number of meetings, is a trifling sum in comparison with
what has been spent by similar boards of former expositions.

As you are aware, the act of Congress, under which both the
Commission and your board find warrant for existence, granted to
the local company an appropriation of $5,000,000 for the
purposes of giving this exposition. We have probably in moments
of inconsiderate feeling been too prone to find fault--I speak
of the Commission, not of the ladies--prone to find fault with
the people here who have been doing the best they could. There
has been a disposition to assume the control, to the exclusion
of outside agencies; and this is but natural because it is
inseparable--or is in evidence with reference to all official
places in our Government--in fact, it has been noticed that a
man, who is ordinarily indolent, when placed in power will
become very energetic in this respect.

The Exposition Company has assumed a full measure of the
responsibilities--and possibly some of our responsibilities as
well--for which we have not been duly grateful. Nevertheless, we
are not inclined to blame these people, because they have
contributed very largely and generously of local means to aid
this enterprise, which leads them to the desire to supervise
each and every detail in connection with this work. This desire
to assume full responsibility is possibly responsible for the
failure to assign to the ladies any particular work, and is also
responsible for the curtailing of the jurisdiction of the
National Commission. As the work progresses, however, I think
that the company realizes the necessity of drawing upon all the
forces available to make the exposition a success.

This Commission had a long and pleasant interview with the
president of the exposition, at which time he brought out a
desire for cooperation and assistance that had not yet been
manifested. I believe now, as your body is organized, from the
harmonious work accomplished at these meetings, and its cordial
relations with the Exposition Company, and certainly with the
Commission, the future promises more than has been accorded to
similar organizations in the past. * * * We thank you, ladies,
for the privilege of being before you, and cheerfully extend our
salutations on the election of your president and upon the good
will and spirit of harmony which prevails among you.

Mr. Lindsay then spoke as follows:

The board of lady managers exists by operation of law, the same
that called the National Commission into existence. It was the
duty of the National Commission to create it. It was the duty of
the National Commission and of the local board to prescribe the
powers and duties of the board of lady managers. Of course,
these duties could not be accurately and technically laid out;
we could only confer the power, and that would suggest what
duties--what power within that general grant they should
exercise. It is not the duty of the board of lady managers to be
supervised by or to be subject to the local board. I was struck
when I read the report made by Mrs. Montgomery of her interview
with the local board, not by the gracious manner in which she
was received and the graceful questions that were asked, but by
the absolute failure in any particular to give definite reply or
take any action upon any of the recommendations made by that
committee.

What I think this board ought to do is to outline or prescribe
the actual things it intends to do, report that to the National
Commission and the local board, and then go ahead, not waiting
to know whether this or that is within its powers or whether or
not this is expedient and whether it can be carried out. Let
some one take the responsibility of saying you can not do this
or can not do that. As long as you deal in generalities with the
National Commission, or agree to everything that is brought up
by the local company, this board of lady managers will never
become an active part or parcel of this great exposition.

I do not agree with my friend, Senator Carter, on another thing,
and that is that these people are entitled to any consideration
on account of the money they have expended. They came to
Congress and asked Congress for authority to do this very thing;
they did not come to Congress for any benefit that they expected
to result to the country, but on account of their own local
interests and to glorify the Louisiana Purchase and the people
of the Louisiana Purchase, and, upon agreeing that they would do
these things, privilege was granted by Congress, and the
appropriation made. That appropriation is not part of their
fund--that is the fund of the United States which is being
distributed in the city of St. Louis, preeminently for the city
and generally for the United States. And was not this board of
lady managers created by the very act of Congress, and have you
not some rights in this matter, to the end that you may
accomplish the work that has been assigned to you?

I say the time has come when we have got to talk plainly and
make some one responsible for your action or nonaction. If
either board considers that you are going beyond your powers
they will have the right to make restrictions, but as long as
you keep within these powers and what you think you ought to do,
I doubt if your work will be restricted in any way.

It is now only four months before the exposition opens, and if
there is ever going to be anything accomplished by this board it
is none too early to begin. For instance, the act of Congress
provides that this board name a judge on all the juries that are
to pass upon the results of female labor; we agreed to it and
the local board agreed to it. Now, then, have you any notice of
on which juries you are to be allowed to name a juror? Have any
steps been taken to indicate on which of these committees you
are to make appointments? The time has come for this work and if
you are to have any authority, or if you are to do any of this
work, it will not be of credit to this board unless you are able
to make the proper preparations for these appointments. But if
you have three months to look around, you will be able to find
the proper persons and make these appointments intelligently. I
hope before the next meeting of the National Commission you will
have agreed specifically upon what you can do, what you desire
to do, and what you are ready to do, so that the scope of action
and authority of this board can be conferred upon it and
insisting that the local board here either approve or disapprove
of your action.

I appreciate all the troubles and difficulties these people have
had, and it is my earnest hope that they will be able to give
the members of this board a decided answer within the next
month. * * *

In reply to a statement made by a member of the board that in an interview with the executive committee of the Exposition Company, Mr. Skiff, the director of exhibits, had said he could not give a list of exhibitors (or exhibits) until near the time of the opening of the exposition, because he did not know what would be entered, and the lists would not be completed until about that time. Mr. Lindsay further said:

It was my opinion that when the lists of classification were
completed, there was nothing else to be inquired into; in that
list, everything which includes the result of female labor,
constitutes the class on which you are to appoint a juror. The
general classification forms a list that would be used for this
purpose.

But referring to another matter, I think that there should have
been provided by act of Congress a fund set apart for the
ladies, to be used by them. Because, as long as you are
compelled to go to the Commission, or to go to the local board
to ascertain what you can spend or what you can not spend, just
so long you will not be able to do anything effectually. I know
that the local board is going to object to all this, but when
the local board finds that by consenting to your reasonable
wishes it is enhancing the interests of the exposition, it will
agree to a proper appropriation and other proper demands made by
your board which relieve that board of any further duties on the
subject. I believe that I have said all I care to say. But,
referring to the rules: That board and the Commission can advise
you not to enforce certain rules, when the enforcement of them
would lead you into difficulties, but just as long as the rules
you make for yourselves are within the scope of authority and
duties granted us and prescribed to you, you can take directions
from the board or from the Commission if you choose to, but you
do not need to do this unless you choose to.

In response to the request of Mrs. Manning that Senator Thurston say a few words, he responded:

Perhaps everybody has been a little delinquent in getting this
board organized and in position where it can take up some proper
work that will be of benefit and be agreeable to the ladies. I
think, perhaps, without going into past history, that the board
of lady managers perhaps has failed to do what it might have
done in the way of formulating a plan for its own participation
in the exposition and that was growing out of circumstances
which no longer exist. I believe now this board is organized
with a president who is heart and soul for the success of the
exposition. Without being tied up to anything in the way of
local interests, it will be better able to compete with the
coming situation. There is, and has been a great deal of
hesitancy on the part of the National Commission about
attempting to outline a plan of action for this board of lady
managers. We provided for your appointment according to law, and
we fell into the belief, I hope it was not an error, that the
ladies on this board would know a great deal better what they
wanted to do, what they ought to do, and what would be best for
them to do than this board of men, who had never had anything to
do with these ladies' departments except to participate in the
enjoyment of them when so fortunate as to be present.

Now, you have prepared and outlined and accepted your rules and
regulations which were approved by our Commission along in June,
I think. They were prepared in April--those rules and
regulations were more than regulations for the procedure of your
board, as I recollect them, they very largely outlined the field
of work for the board of lady managers. They were adopted and
modified a little by the National Commission and sent to the
local company. They were prepared in April, promptly sent to the
local company because we thought without their action they could
not go into effect and there they have been ever since. To a
limited extent it was never necessary to send them there, so far
as the organization and management of the board of lady managers
is concerned--but, when you step over that or attempt to outline
the scope of your work, and your participation in the affairs of
the exposition, that part must go to the National Commission and
be approved.

Suppose, for instance, these ladies decided they would like to
participate in one of the National Congresses, that they would
take charge of a certain Congress out at the exposition, I do
not think any of them could do that without the sanction of the
local company.

I am very positive in my views that when it comes to providing
for the legislation of this board for its participation in the
fair, it can not be done without the National Commission, and
especially without the permission of the company. I do not think
that they can decide to take up certain lines of work and go out
there to do it without having some agreement on the subject.

At the meeting of the board on the day following, December 17, 1903, Mrs. Hanger tendered her resignation from the office of the secretary of the board of lady managers, and Miss Lavinia II. Eagan was unanimously elected to fill the vacancy. Upon this occasion Mrs. Coleman presented the following motion:

That the resignation of Mrs. Hanger from the office of secretary
of this board be accepted with regret, and that Mrs. Hanger be
extended a hearty vote of thanks for her faithful, painstaking,
and efficient work for the board as such official.

One of the most brilliant courtesies tendered the board of lady managers was the reception given in its honor by the Woman's Club, at the club house, on December 17.

Up to this time the plans outlined by the members of the Commission, such as sending representatives abroad to interest the women of foreign countries in the exposition, and other "suggestions" made by the board, designated by the president of the Commission as legitimate exposition work, had been rejected by the company. The members of the board of lady managers, therefore, were now of the unanimous opinion that they would be most seriously embarrassed and their services rendered ineffective and inoperative unless an appropriation could be secured from Congress to defray the cost of meetings and other necessary expenses. If they failed to secure funds of their own, their power and influence in connection with the exposition would continue to be limited and indefinite.

Pursuant to the recommendations of the National Commission, therefore, as expressed at their meeting December 16, 1903, a new legislative committee was appointed on December 18, to take the place of the one created under the resolution of May 2, 1903, with instructions to the members to proceed immediately to Washington, which they did on January 5, 1904. The history and successful result of their work is given by the chairman of that committee in her final report.

At the meeting of the board of lady managers, held at its rooms in the Administration Building, March 1, 1904, before the regular order of business was taken up, Mrs. Andrews asked for and obtained unanimous consent to speak to the members of the board, and said:

In view of what has transpired at Washington since our last
meeting, the extent of which only members of our legislative
committee realize--for almost to a man the lower House was
opposed to the appropriation, and it was only by arduous,
strenuous, and noble work of our president and the members of
that committee that the results were attained--I offer the
following resolution:

_Resolved_, That the thanks of the board are due, and are hereby
tendered, to the members of the legislative committee for
securing an appropriation to defray our necessary expenses and
thereby achieving the honorable emancipation of the board.

_Resolved_, That the board extend a vote of thanks to itself for
the wisdom manifested in the selection of Mrs. Daniel Manning as
its president, who has so fully enlisted the best efforts of all
the members of the board and who has begun her work by showing
that deeds rather than words are of special value.

The resolution was adopted by unanimous rising vote.

On the following day President Francis addressed the board as follows:

I am very glad to have this opportunity to talk to you. I desire
to congratulate you upon your getting the appropriation from
Congress for $100,000. I was very willing, indeed, as all the
members of the executive committee were, to do what we could
toward securing the money. After your worthy president waited
upon the executive committee and was informed of our plan to ask
a loan of $4,500,000 from the Treasury, she in turn informed us
that the board of lady managers had decided to ask for $100,000
for their own use, we very readily came to an agreement to the
effect that we would join forces and see what we could
accomplish with Congress. As you are aware, it is a very
difficult matter to get money out of Congress at best, and when
the Government had already spent about $1,250,000 for its own
exhibit, and when we had promised that we would not apply to
Congress or appeal for any additional aid, the circumstances
under which we made that deal or presented that bill were
especially trying, and I think we all deserve to be
congratulated upon the outcome.

When I went to Washington I found your president at the Capitol
with Mrs. Montgomery. They had all worked assiduously and had
made considerable headway in the Senate--in which body it was
our plan to introduce the bill in the shape of an amendment to
the urgent deficiency bill.

While the matter was pending in the Senate the question of this
$100,000 was brought up. We very promptly assured the ladies
that this amount would be added to our bill asking for a loan of
$4,500,000. We preferred, of course, that we should not be
expected to repay it. However, the bill was presented and passed
and this $100,000 is to be paid over to the board of lady
managers upon their order, and for such purposes as they may
elect. The bill does not provide definitely out of which of our
payments this $100,000 should come. The bill provided that we
should get the money in four installments of $1,000,000 each,
and a final installment of $600,000 not being payable until May.
The bill does not provide out of which payment your $100,000
shall be paid, but I wish to say, on behalf of the Exposition
Company, we are willing and ready to pay that whenever you
ladies request that it shall be paid. We do not know what plans,
if any, you have made or in what manner you are planning for the
disbursement of that money. * * *

Now, with regard to your money, I am not going to give you any
gratuitous advice, but only wish to assure you that it is the
intention of the company--that the company is ready to give that
money to you in any form you may desire it. It will be given to
you in any installments you may designate or it will be set
aside in its entirety to be used for no other purpose than to
honor requisitions of the board of lady managers.

In other words, it is possible for us to do this, and we will do
it to your satisfaction, and we will draw up a letter of
instruction and set aside as a special credit in the Treasury
the sum of $100,000 in accordance with our bill of Congress,
approved blank date. The auditor will draw his warrants without
the approval of the treasurer of this company, but merely upon
the requisition of the board of lady managers. The $100,000
would be set aside in the treasury of the company and you would
have a written instrument and the treasurer would have orders to
honor checks made upon that $100,000 in satisfaction of
requisitions approved by the board of lady managers.

Of course, as I said before, if you wish to take that money out
and put it in some depository in St. Louis or elsewhere it is at
your disposal. You could get a check for a portion of the money
or all of it if you wish. Our only obligation in connection with
that $100,000 now is to repay it, as we have no intention or
desire to avoid that part of it.

Now, if you should take the money out and put it in some
depository in St. Louis or elsewhere to your credit you would be
put to the expense of organizing an auditing system, the same as
we have been.

I am willing, speaking on behalf of the company, to give you the
benefit of the auditing system without your incurring any
additional expense, and, if you wish, in order to make you
doubly secure, I will get a letter from the treasurer stating
that he has, in accordance with the instructions of the
president, set aside $100,000 for the use of the board of lady
managers, and that the $100,000 can only be drawn by checks
signed by your treasurer and countersigned by your president.

I only say this as a suggestion, because we all have become
interested, but if you choose to ask us for $25,000 of the
money, or for all of it, we will give it you.

Now, with regard to other expenses you may incur or have
incurred--I find in my report made to me to-day, which was made
at your request--we have paid you up to this time for mileage
and per diem in attending board meetings $16,856. That includes
the $3,000 for which no vouchers have been turned in as yet. You
can keep that, with or without vouchers as you please. If you
want your business in the proper shape, however, it is more
businesslike for you to turn in the vouchers. However, that lies
with you.

Now, previous to the appropriation of the $100,000 the executive
committee had appropriated $15,000 for the furnishing of the
Woman's Building, which building, as you know, cost us $100,000.
Of course, you could have gotten a building erected that would
have answered your purpose as well and cost less than $100,000,
but under the terms of our contract with the Washington
University that amount was paid out of the rental fund of
$750,000 which we paid for these buildings as they stand.

Besides that $100,000, we promised to give you $15,000 for the
furnishing of that building. When we made that promise we did
not know you were going to get $100,000 from Congress which we
would have to pay back. * * *

Now, in view of what I have said, we feel that we will give you
the $15,000 for your building if you insist upon it; that is, we
have made the appropriation of $35,000 for the creche. The
$15,000 toward the equipment of the Woman's Building, under the
circumstances--it seems to me, we should be relieved of that
$15,000. I thought when I returned from Washington that the
financial worry had been met, but I have realized within the
past forty-eight hours that we can not open the exposition
within the nineteen and one-half millions. We will not go back
to Washington, however. We are economizing in every possible
way. * * *

An official communication was received by the president of the board of lady managers stating that in the draft of the contract between the Exposition Company and the Treasury Department--

It is provided that from the first payment of $1,000,000 there
shall be set aside by the Exposition Company $100,000 to be paid
to the board of lady managers according to the provisions of the
act and for no other purpose whatsoever.

The attention of the Exposition Company was called to this provision, and on March 5, 1904, the two following letters were received:

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
_Office of the Secretary, March 5, 1904._

MADAM PRESIDENT: I am directed by President Francis to inform
you that the executive committee has approved the requisition of
the board of lady managers for $100,000, made available to said
board from the Government loan by special act of Congress, as
set forth in the resolution adopted by the board March 3, 1904.

Acting in accordance with the instructions of the executive
committee, the president has this day deposited, out of the
Government loan, the sum of $100,000 with the treasurer, Mr.
William H. Thompson, said sum to be drawn out by the board of
lady managers in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the
board; that is to say, to be "subject to draft of the treasurer
of said board, countersigned by the president of the board."

Very respectfully,
WALTER B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._

The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS,
_Administration Building._

ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
_Office of the Secretary, March 5, 1904._

MADAM PRESIDENT: I have this day received by deposit from the
Government loan the sum of $100,000, made available to the board
of lady managers by special act of Congress. This sum will be
held by me subject to draft of the treasurer of the board of
lady managers, countersigned by the president of the board of
lady managers.

Very respectfully,
W.H. THOMPSON,
_Treasurer._

To Mrs. DANIEL MANNING,
_President Board of Lady Managers._

The following is the provision made in the urgent deficiency bill, which was passed on February 18, 1904, which secured to the board of lady managers a sum sufficient to enable them to meet any obligations which they might assume in the conduct of their participation in the affairs of the exposition:

_Provided_, That of said sums $100,000 shall be paid by said
Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company to, or on the order of,
the board of lady managers of said exposition for such purposes
as said board of lady managers shall approve, and at such times
as said board of lady managers shall request the same.

FINAL REPORT OF THE LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE.

Immediately after the election of Mrs. Daniel Manning to the
presidency of the board of lady managers, on December 16, 1903,
a new legislative committee was appointed to succeed the one
that had been created by Mrs. James L. Blair, the former
president. The committee was composed of Mrs. Montgomery, Mrs.
Coleman, and Mrs. Buchwalter, chairman, and instructed to
endeavor to procure from Congress an appropriation of $100,000
for the use of the board, in order that it might be enabled to
perform in a proper manner the purposes for which it had been
brought into existence.

It had become evident that the Exposition Company would require
a much larger amount of money than was then at its command in
order to inaugurate and successfully continue the World's Fair.
The men who had engineered the magnificent undertaking to this
point in its development reasoned that, as they had already
expended a sum far beyond that ever given any other similar
project, they might not find a ready response to a request for
further gifts. They were so confident of ultimate success,
however, that they did not hesitate to ask Congress for a loan
of $4,500,000 in order to conduct the affairs of the exposition.

The legislative committee of the board of lady managers appealed
to the Exposition Company and asked that the company add to the
amount of the loan for which it desired to negotiate the further
sum of $100,000, to be set apart for the exclusive use of the
board of lady managers. Receiving the promise that this fund
should be included, the members of the legislative committee
went to Washington to aid in every way in their power the
passage of the bill providing for said loan.

Upon the arrival of the committee in Washington, on January 5,
the members found they had undertaken what eventually proved to
be a most arduous task against great odds. They found the most
deep-seated, persistent opposition to granting another dollar to
the fair, and were told President Francis had been advised to
defer his trip to Washington until the latter part of January,
as it would be hazardous to attempt the passage of the bill
until the strong feeling against it then existing had abated.
Many members of Congress strongly advised the legislative
committee to ask for a special appropriation, but it had been
agreed that one appropriation should cover the requirements of
both boards.

Mr. James S. Tawney, of Minnesota, a member of the House of
Representatives, and chairman of the committee for this and
similar appropriations, when in St. Louis had listened with
interest to the representation of the subject setting forth the
needs of the board of lady managers, and kindly had promised his
good offices in helping to advance their cause. He promptly
granted an interview when informed that the committee had
arrived in Washington, and, while most courteous, did not
disguise the fact that there were grave dangers ahead for the
loan to the Exposition Company, which had been made a part of
the urgent deficiency bill. He examined the budget which had
been prepared, giving careful scrutiny to each item, and, after
some suggestions and minor changes, a budget was submitted to
him which was afterwards used.

On January 29 President Francis went before the Senate
committee, and on February 1 appeared before the House
committee, on behalf of a loan for the Exposition Company.

During the long interim preceding the arrival of President
Francis and those aiding him, those of the committee who had
remained in the capital were untiring in their efforts to make
friends for the bill, and as their cause was heartily indorsed
by their respective Senators and many members of their State
delegations, they became most hopeful of ultimate success.

The unceasing energy of the members of the legislative committee
was admirably aided by the president of this board, who had been
untiring in her efforts to make friends for the bill, and had
used these efforts in a masterly manner. Her large acquaintance
among, and knowledge of, men of affairs in Washington, and her
clear statements as to the way in which this board had been
created, and her convincing argument that the work of the board
must of necessity be most inadequate and inefficient by reason
of lack of funds, gained many advocates for the bill, and to her
is due the credit for the success of the work which the
committee was appointed to do. She was always at work,
unresting, unhasting, and, although weary and worn with the
interminable delay, neither she nor any member of the committee
left any honorable means untried in order to secure what was so
vitally necessary to the very existence of this board during the
exposition.

As the result of the combined efforts some who had affected
indifference became interested, and some who had previously
stoutly declared unalterable opposition finally yielded, not
only working and voting themselves in favor of the bill, but
persuading others to do so. It was naturally a source of great
satisfaction to the members of the legislative committee that
the strongest and most influential men of both Houses gave
recognition to the urgent claims which the board of lady
managers had upon Congress. It was these men who insisted upon
the incorporation of the specific clause providing for their
$100,000 as an amendment in the loan bill. This was eventually
done, and the amendment remained there until the passage of the
bill, thus becoming a part of the law governing the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition.

A brief description of the manner in which the loan bill was
brought before Congress may be of interest.

There is, in every session, what is called an urgency deficiency
bill, the object of which is to take care of the different
Interests which are likely to fail through inadequate
appropriation. The opposition to including the item of the loan
for the Exposition Company was found to be so powerful that it
could not be inserted in the bill when it was sent to the House.
This urgent deficiency bill passed the House and went to the
Senate. There the loan amendment was inserted, and finally our
amendment was added also. It passed the Senate and was then
returned to the House in order that that body might pass upon
the amendments which the Senate had added. In the meetings
before the two appropriation committees, as well as in the
discussion in the two Houses, the arguments for and against were
very forcibly expressed. One reason advanced as to why the loan
should be made was because other governments had been invited to
participate, and the company should be enabled to open its gates
in a manner befitting a national host. Among the main objections
set forth at length were: First, the alleged unconstitutionality
of the whole proceeding; second, the inadequacy of the security.
All those speaking against the measure affected a total
disbelief that the receipts would be sufficient to enable the
company to return the money advanced, and, of course, a spasm of
economy nearly rent these statesmen in twain.

The exposition management was not spared. More than one speaker
waxed eloquent over what he declared was wanton waste of the
greatest amount of money ever intrusted to an exposition
management, which wanton waste had made the Exposition Company
bankrupt and again at the doors of the Treasury begging for
funds. Those working against the bill triumphantly quoted the
following clause, which is section 24 of the original bill, and
which authorized the creation of the exposition. It reads:

"That nothing in this act shall be so construed as to create any
liability of the United States, direct or indirect, for any debt
or obligation incurred, nor for any claim for aid or pecuniary
assistance from Congress or the United States in support or
liquidation of the debts or obligations created by said
Commission."

After postponement and delays, the bill of the 11th of February
passed the House 172 to 115--57 majority. On the 15th it went
back to the Senate and was promptly passed.

The whole amount appropriated for the use of the board of lady
managers was placed in their custody by the Secretary of the
Treasury, and its expenditure has been most carefully guarded.
With this money at its command, it has always stood ready to
assist the Exposition Company in every way possible, and the
report of the treasurer will show that the disbursements have
been made in a manner befitting the greatest of all world's
fairs.

Respectfully submitted.
C.B. BUCHWALTER.
MARY PHELPS MONTGOMERY.
SALLIE D. COLEMAN.

All of the members of the board of lady managers were inspired at an early period of their official existence with a desire to accomplish something that would be of lasting benefit to the interests of women, and one of the first committees to be appointed by the president was on woman's work, which seemed to offer great scope for the development of earnest efforts and good judgment. They realized that upon their activity would greatly depend the extent to which women in this country and of the world at large would participate, directly or indirectly, in making this exposition the most beneficent for women that had been, or could be, attained in any age or ages.

Specific action was restricted, however, by the Exposition Company, and the committee on woman's work was not enabled to give an international character to its work. While the life of its organization was in no way affected, the board was not allowed to expend any money except under the authority of the Exposition Company, and although the members believed that whatever action they might take in regard to sending a representative of the board abroad was legitimate exposition work and would be promptly ratified by the National Commission and local company, their request was denied by the executive committee of the company, and they were not permitted to extend their work on the broad lines for which they had hoped.

An effort was made by two members of the committee on woman's work, in conference with the heads of the departments in Washington, to secure information as to the details of the work performed by women in the various Government departments, and their salaries. This matter was brought before the board at its session held February 18, 1903, and it was believed by the members that if such a statement could be obtained it would be helpful in the development and organization of woman's work in connection with the board. As all arrangements had previously been planned in Washington to have the work done if desired by the board, the secretary was instructed to write to Hon. John R. Procter, president United States Civil Service Commission, and ask for statistics. In order to procure the data from all the departments, it was necessary to have an Executive order from the President. Mr. Procter made this request, and the President graciously issued the following:

Executive Order.

The HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS:

The board of lady managers of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
desires a statement prepared, showing the work performed by
women in the departments, together with their official
designations, salaries, etc. It is requested that so far as it
will not inconvenience public work, such information may be
supplied.

THEODORE ROOSEVELT.

WHITE HOUSE, _March 21, 1903._

It may be said that the occupations in which women are now engaged in the Departments, where their duties range from those involving mere manual labor to skilled professional service, represent many of the lines in which women are now so active everywhere. The salaries vary from $240 to $1,800 per annum.

It is believed that the citation of a few examples of the high positions of importance and responsibility now held by women, compiled for the information of the board of lady managers, may be a source of encouragement to others by showing what natural ability, backed with determination and industry, may accomplish. The following memoranda has been taken at random from but four of the Departments:

_Department of State_.--Miss ---- went into the service in 1893,
and was detailed to assist the Secretary of State, who was
engaged in negotiating reciprocity treaties. She served in the
capacity of confidential clerk to four Secretaries and one
Assistant Secretary of State. Served as stenographer and
typewriter in the Consular Bureau of the Department of State,
and was later confidential stenographer to the Third Assistant
Secretary of State, and assisted in the preparation of the
correspondence with the Alaska boundary question.

Another was appointed as a temporary clerk for the purpose of
introducing the book typewriter for recording the correspondence
of the Department which formerly had been done by hand. After
installing the book typewriter and bringing the Diplomatic Notes
and Instructions up to date, she was detailed as stenographer
and typewriter to the Chief Clerk of the Department. Her duties
in the office of the Chief Clerk required her to be familiar
with the work of the bureaus of the Department and the many
intricate questions constantly presented to the Chief Clerk's
office. She was required to have expert knowledge of the cipher
used in the Department, and a considerable part of her time was
employed in enciphering and deciphering telegrams sent from and
received by the Department.

One young woman was detailed for three months to serve as
stenographer and typewriter to the American Commission at The
Hague in the arbitration between the United States and Mexico,
where she assisted in taking stenographic report of the sessions
before the arbitral court.

Miss ----, appointed under the civil service rules, was in the
Bureau of Foreign Commerce, where her duties required her to
prepare the consular reports for publication, translate extracts
from foreign commercial newspapers, etc.

A clerk was appointed in the recorder of deeds' office, but
resigned to accept an appointment in the Department of State.
Her work at first was in the Diplomatic Bureau, where she was
engaged in preparing papers for signature, translating French,
Italian, and Spanish; engrossing treaties, proclamations,
drafting maps, pen and ink sketches, etc. Later she was detailed
to the Bureau of Indexes and Archives, where she was employed in
recording the Diplomatic Notes and Instructions of the
Department on the book typewriter.

_Department of the Interior_.--Mrs. ---- held a law desk in the
General Land Office and decided many of the difficult problems
connected with the deeds and patents of land on the frontier.
Was first appointed in the Government Printing Office at $48 per
month, and later appointed in the Pension Office at an increased
salary, where her duties were copying pension certificates and
notifying pensioners of the allowance of their pensions. Upon
her second promotion, the work and pay being unsatisfactory to
her, she was, at her own request, transferred to the railroad
division of the General Land Office. Her duties were to copy
railroad decisions, and the work being merely routine clerical
work, she took up typewriting, hoping to advance herself
thereby. This caused her to be transferred to the contest
division, and later she was assigned to a desk requiring
original work, and her duties were to promulgate decisions of
the Department. From this time on the grade of her work was
raised until she was promoted to $1,400, by which time she had
become familiar with the entire work of the division. She soon
found that a knowledge of the law of Congress disposing of the
public domain and familiarity with the rules of practice and
decisions of the General Land Office and of the Department alone
were not sufficient to enable her to perform her work in a
manner satisfactory to herself, however satisfactory to the
Department, and she therefore took up a regular four years' law
course and graduated with credit to herself and her college.

How satisfactorily she does her work is shown by the fact that
out of sixty appeals from her decisions rendered during a period
of six months, decisions involving thousands of dollars, only
one was reversed and one modified, and this because of new
matter being filed after the decisions were rendered by her.

Mrs. ---- also enjoys the distinction of holding a law desk in
the General Land Office, having been transferred to it from the
Census Office, where she had been dealing with mathematical
problems. It was found that a $1,600 clerk was back in his work
with 300 cases which it was necessary to have adjudicated. The
bringing this work up to date was assigned to her. Prior to this
she had written a few decisions. She was at first appalled at
the decree, but went bravely to work with a determination to
succeed. How well she succeeded can be ascertained by the
records of the office. Later she was transferred at her own
request from the public land division to the contest or law
division. Her experience gained in the Land Office taught her
how to adjudicate contest cases, and she was often required to
bring up work of the principal law examiners when in arrears.

Miss ---- was assigned to duty on Board of Pension Appeals to
typewrite decisions for signature of the Assistant Secretary and
act as his stenographer. Afterwards transferred to patents and
miscellaneous division of the Secretary's Office. Duties:
Stenographer and typewriting; indexing; in charge of issuing
authorities for open market purchases to the Geological Survey
and to Howard University, and issuance of permits for admission
to the Government Hospital for the Insane, and to Freedmen's
Hospital and Asylum; assistant in abstracting various reports to
be embodied in the Secretary's annual report to the President. A
knowledge of law was of considerable assistance in the work of
the division, and after entering the Government service she took
a three years' course in the Washington College of Law and was
admitted to the bar of the supreme court of the District of
Columbia.

_Library of Congress._--The Library of Congress employs 135
women in a force of 302 persons. The salaries range $1,500 to
$360 a year, and they are employed in almost all the divisions.
None of them, however, rate as laborers.

At $1,500 there is one woman at work in the catalogue division
as an expert reviser of printed catalogue cards and proof
reader. At $1,400 three women serve as assistant readers of
catalogue cards and proof readers in the catalogue division, and
another is the chief reviser in the record division of the
Copyright Office.

At $1,200 there are 11 women employees. Of these, 5 are in the
Copyright Office as translators, indexers, and cataloguers; 5
are in the catalogue division as cataloguers of the first class,
and one is in charge of the reading room for the blind.

_Post-Office Department._--One clerk of class 3, salary $1,600,
prepares correspondence for the signature of the
Postmaster-General and the Chief Clerk reads and refers the
Congressional and Departmental mail addressed to the
Postmaster-General; assists in the compilation of the estimates
of appropriations for the Department and postal service; also
assists in the compilation of the Postal Guides; in charge of
the distribution of the Postal Laws and Regulations and of the
Postal Guide throughout the postal service; stenographer and
typewriter.

One clerk of class 2, salary $1,400, to whom is assigned the
duty of preparing the three lists of post-offices published each
year in the Official Postal Guide, and lists of changes in
post-offices published each month in the supplemental postal
guide.