amely, "A statement showing contract obligations for
the several buildings, names of contractors, dates fixed for
payment, amount heretofore paid, and dates for final completion
of each structure," is being prepared and will be forwarded to
you.

Respectfully,
W.B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._

Mr. JOSEPH FLORY,
_Secretary._

The statements furnished by the Exposition Company following this
correspondence did not seem to the Commission to be sufficiently
explanatory of the financial condition of the exposition, and with a
view of obviating this difficulty, and of insuring better results in the
future, the Commission on March 13, 1903, appointed a special auditing
committee, consisting of Messrs. Scott, Thurston, and Miller, to audit
the books and accounts of the Exposition Company up to April 1, 1903.
Mr. Scott, as chairman, was authorized by the following resolution to
make the audit:

Copy of Resolution.

_Resolved_, That the special auditing committee heretofore
appointed be, and said committee is hereby, directed to inquire
into and report to the Commission at its earliest convenience
the true situation concerning the financial condition of the
Exposition Company in the matter of cash receipts from different
sources, including receipts for admissions and concessions and
other sources; also all disbursements of any nature made by the
Exposition Company. They will also examine all advertisements
for bids; also all competitive bids submitted by contractors
under each advertisement, and compare the accepted bids with the
rejected bids, and determine if the accepted bids are reasonable
in comparison with the material and service rendered. They will
also prepare a comparative statement showing all bids submitted,
and a copy of all contracts as finally awarded.

It is the wish of the Commission that you, as chairman of the
special auditing committee, proceed with as much expedition as
possible to make the examination and secure the information as
set forth in above resolution.

Owing to the magnitude of the work of auditing the books of such an
immense enterprise, Mr. Scott engaged the services of Jones, Caesar &
Co., expert accountants, of St. Louis, to make the investigation under
supervision of the committee.

On June 23, 1903, the special auditing committee made a report to the
Commission, and at var