report mention of the allegations contained in the letter of the president of the Commission, dated February 28, the committee asks that in justice to the Exposition Company such investigation shall be made and the conclusions of the Commission shall be given.

    Very respectfully,
    WALTER B. STEVENS,
    Secretary.

    Mr. LAURENCE H. GRAHAME,
    Secretary National Commission, 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 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.