on, Washington, D.C._

Another communication bearing on the disposition of the salvage was
received from Mr. Stevens, as follows:

MARCH 23, 1905.

DEAR SIR: At a meeting of the National Commission on the 20th
the suggestion was made by a member of the Commission that the
answer to allegation third did not fully cover the ground. The
allegation and the answer were:

That the exposition officials rejected higher bids than that of
the Chicago House Wrecking Company, so that the latter might
have further opportunity to raise its figures.

Answer. No higher bid was received either before or after the
sum of $450,000 had been agreed upon to be recommended by the
committee on salvage.

The purpose was to answer that no higher bid than that made by
the Chicago House Wrecking Company was received either before;
at the time, or after the sum of $450,000 had been agreed upon
to be recommended by the committee on salvage.

On the 30th of November, early in the day, the Chicago House
Wrecking Company made a bid for $420,000. Up to that time and
during that day the next highest bid was under $400,000. Late in
the day, the 30th of November, the salvage committee, after
conference with all bidders who presented themselves, made the
proposition to the Chicago House Wrecking Company that if it
would raise its bid from $420,000 to $450,000 the committee
would recommend acceptance by the executive committee.

Respectfully,
WALTER B. STEVENS,
_Secretary._

Mr. LAURENCE H. GRAHAME,
_Secretary National Commission, Washington, D.C._

As a result of the inquiry instituted by the Commission into the
disposal of the salvage, statements supported by affidavits were
received and the same are appended to this report and marked "Appendix
No. 2."

Under the act of Congress the Commission had no power to undertake a
more thorough investigation of the charges and allegations made in
respect to the manner in which the salvage of the exposition had been
disposed of.

Without authority to send for persons and papers, to administer oaths,
or to compel witnesses to testify, any further attempt upon the part of
the Commission to inquire into the salvage matter would have been futile
and ineffective. If any further action is to be taken to ascertain
whether or not the financial interest of the United States has been
sacrificed by