the manner in which the salvage was disposed of, the
inquiry must be conducted by some committee or official having these
powers, which the Commission did not possess.

A careful perusal of the law under which the Commission was appointed
will show the narrow limits of its legal authority, and the records
disclose the policy of the Exposition Company not only to confine the
Commission strictly within the narrowest limits of the law, but also to
question and resist the exercise of its authority in many instances
where the law seemed to place such authority beyond question.

From the very beginning the Commission sought to establish harmonious
relations with the company, and at all times refrained from contention
with its officials as to all matters not vitally affecting the interest
of the Government, and endeavored in every possible way to cooperate
with the company in promoting the exposition and insuring its success.

It is pleasant to turn from disagreements to achievements. From the
scientific, the artistic, and the industrial points of view the
exposition was a pronounced success. The munificent and unfailing
support given the enterprise by the Government of the United States
guaranteed that it would be a great exposition.

Considering the primary appropriation of $5,000,000, the loan of
$4,600,000, and the contributions by the direct appropriations and by
indirect means through the assignment of officers paid from other
appropriations, together with the exhibits from Districts, Territories,
and dependencies of the United States, and for the Government exhibit,
the aggregate contributions, direct and indirect, to the success of the
fair approximated substantially $15,000,000 on the day the gates were
opened to the public.

In addition to this proclamations were twice issued by the President
inviting foreign nations to participate in the exposition; the consular
and diplomatic representatives of the Government were inspired to aid
the exposition to the extent of their ability, within the limits of
official propriety; the army transports and the vessels of the Navy were
generously employed in furtherance of the project, where such employment
was found consistent with duty. Never in history has any Government done
so much in aid of any like enterprise. With such support from the
Government failure was impossible under any rational management.

[Transcriber's note: The easiest way to explain the garbled nature of