r. Abe Harris into the committee room, where the
salvage committee was opening the bids. He remained in there some little
time. As soon as Mr. Harris came out Mr. H.S. Albrecht was called in. He
told me when he came out that he had entered a vigorous protest as to
the way the bids were being handled, and that he as a stockholder and a
bidder had again demanded that the bids be opened in the presence of the
bidders. Mr. Schmitt and myself were next called into the room where the
salvage committee was in session. Mr. Taylor asked me if I knew a Mr.
Schluetter, of Chicago. I told him that I was well acquainted with the
gentleman, that I had done considerable work for him in Chicago, and
that he had always paid me for it. When I made this remark President
Francis looked at Mr. Taylor and laughed in rather a sneering way. I
presumed from his actions that the Exposition Company had had some
trouble with Mr. Schluetter. President Francis said to me, "Mr. Krug,
you have some excellent recommendations here from prominent people and
banks of Chicago." I told him that I was well able to carry out any
contract I undertook, as I had good financial backing and understood my
business. He said to me, "Mr. Krug, your bid is very satisfactory, but
why have you not submitted a bid on all the buildings shown in the
specifications?" I told him I had taken into consideration the insurance
on the various buildings and that I was afraid I might have trouble in
getting insurance on all the buildings, and therefore submitted a bid on
buildings that were quite a distance apart and less liable to fire. I
told President Francis at this time that I was willing to submit a bid
for $76,600 on all the buildings shown in the specifications prepared by
Mr. Taylor. My first bid did not include all the buildings shown in the
specifications. I made this offer offhand. He asked me if I wanted to
figure on wrecking the buildings for the Exposition Company on a
percentage basis, they to own all the material and sell it and I to get
a per cent for doing the work. I told him I would take it by contract
for an agreed figure or would do the work for him on a percentage basis,
and that I would be glad to do anything for him I could. President
Francis said to me, "Mr. Krug, you put in your bid for $76,600 in
writing and have it in this office to-morrow morning." We were then
asked to wait out in the anteroom. We waited there until about 6
o'clock. At about 6 o'clock M