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• • ■ • i ■ i i ; QUITE INTERESTING TO NEW ORLEANS. Management of Recent Meeting at Fair Grounds Aroused by Reports of Melon Cutting." New Orleans. La.. March 15. — Branding as untrue statements to the effect that a princely ••melon." said to be .SUM. 0H. was to be divided among the directors and stockholders of the Business Mens [lacing Association, secretary Sam J. Hart, of the racing association, states that it is not known whit the profits on the race meeting lie. and that an accurate statement will not be obtainable until the auditors have gone over the books of the organization thoroughly. "I read accounts in afternoon newspapers." said secretary Hart, "and could hardly believe that such erroneous statements could find their way into print. Most of the statements, it appears to me. are maliciously untrue, and some effort should be made to learn the source of the false reports which have been published. " s a matter of fact, the sum which our association has in the bank awaiting the decision of the Stockholder ■ as to whether a dividend shall be declared is nothing like 00,000. This figure is as ridiculous as it is stupendous. "Then the statement that judge Murphy has received .1,000 in addition to his salary, is absolutely untrue, as the amount of money Mr. Murphy is to get aside from his salary can only be fixed after our auditors complete their accounting and our attorneys render a financial report. Mr. Murphy is to receive ten per cent, of the net profits, but why anyone has ss prematurely announced that this percentage will amount to 1,000 is more than 1 can see. "Practically every other amount mentioned in the afternoon paper stories as being various directors-shares of the profits on the meeting is stretched beyond ail hope of cognition. Such misstatements can only lead to dissension if they are believed, and I. as secretary of the association and as one person who should be closely in touch with all its business, wish to hereby deny that anything like a M00.000 •melon is to be cut." Many either directors of the association have hastened to contradict the statements printed. W. L. Miltenberger being among the first to deny emphatically having received any amount of money from the association. Said Mr. Miltenberger: "I was notified that a certain sum of money hail been set aside for me. but 1 dee lined o accept it on the grounds that I elo not feel that I have earned any remuneration. In taking this stand 1 do ne t mean to reflect any discredit on those of our directors who have agreed to accept the sums of money rated te them, for I fell that they have earned it and even more-. Stress eif businiss matters makes it impossible for me to give as muck time to the associa-tions affairs as I woulel like to, and because I have- not done very much towarel the1 cause in the past, anil will not be able to do much more in the future. I have re-sedved not only to refuse any recompense, but also to resign as a director." President I. P. Rennyson stated that he felt all of the officers e f the racing association are deserving of any remuneration given them, for everyone wolkeel hard to make both the 1915 and 1910 race meetings successful, but that he hail decided not to accept any pay from the association. Like Mr. Miltenberger, President Rennyson believes that others deserve what they received. According to Secretary Hart senm- of the directors have be-en offered ,400 as remuneration for their time and em rgy spent in the revival eif racing anil in the operation of the two successful race meetings. Some have agreed to accept it; others have dee lined. See-retary Hart and Yie-i-President John Dillon also have" been notified that they have ,400 coming to them. Stewarel Thomas C. Campbell anil President Rennyson have been put down for .S00 each. Mr. Campbell, as press manager of beith meetings, was under an eliormems expense throughout both seasons, while Mr. Rennyson gave up eon- siderable time from his business. It was deemed nei more than right that they shoulil not he asked to lose- what they hail expended in behalf of the revival of rae-ing. It has been a sit of unwritten law that every one connected with the work of bringing the thoroughbreds back to New Orleans was doing so v. itli tin- understanding that no salaries woald be paid the directors ami that only in the event of the association making money could any one of the directors tx pe for remuneration. The racing asso-ciation has made money. The sjiort proved so nue- eesstiii that it was impossible to keep the profits down. The wind-up of the 1916 meeting found a ci nsideiable sum representative of the profits on twe meetings, and naturally the question arose as to th.i disp sitiou of this money. It Is the opinion of many of the stockholders anel directors that the original idea of the establishment of a state fair Should be- adhered to. and that the surplus should be expendeel in starting this enterprise. Just how the moneys will be distribute. I will be- threshed out at a general inoot-tng of stockholders, which will be called by Pieal- dent He iinyson. When apprised eif the tiling eif the- suit against the association by Miss Jean Gordon, Secretary Hart said that the association has nothing in fear anel thai hi i- coaadenl his organisation can prove a receiver is i ot needed: Joseph A. Murphy. managi-r of the1 Easiness Mens Pacing Association, has issued the following state-nient : "In the publicity given to the alleged melon cutting eif the Business Mens Kaeing Association, the- impression is given that I am the recipient of some special compensation. 1 wish to correct this impression. Corporations are- reunited to pay their servants for sell Res rendered undiT Bgreesseat or contract. I am not a director or stockholder eif the Business Mens Kaeing AseociatMa. I came to New-Orleans on the invitation of the Business Mens Racing Association after it was organized, anel met as a promoter of horse rae-ing in Louisiana. Juelg-ing horse racing and managing fairs and race iiivit-iagS is my profession. I was aske-d for my terms. submitted them, and oa their acceptance I was signed to a five- years coatract. I am tin- servant of the Business Mens Racing flssofiathia. pro-tected by contract to manage its rae-ing so that it will be a Credit to the state anil city. On my part ami the part eif the Business Means Racing Ass,, elation the coatract to date has been kept inviolate to its minutest details. There has been no change, nor will there be in the original agreement. If by rompa tent .management I have made the meetiags a sporting and financial success that only sustains the judgment of the- nasot ls,lloa in employing me. "We have- sufficient money to finance an annual livestock and agricultural fair. I have- repeatedly offered, through the public press, tei promote anil organise such an institution without compensation. Its purpose are germane to those- of the- Business Mens Kaeing Association. My offer still holds good."
