Thos.  H. CARTER,
    President.

    Hon. D.R.  FRANCIS,
    President Exposition Company, Building.

As indicated by correspondence hereinafter set forth, the company did not present the names of jurors to the Commission on or before August 1, and indeed did not advise the Commission of the names of many of the jurors until long after the time had elapsed for the performance of their duties.

After the group juries had performed their duties certain persons, feeling aggrieved by the awards made, undertook to appeal to the Commission for redress.  The Commission disclaimed jurisdiction to consider the matter until the awards were submitted to it for approval.  Upon inquiry growing out of these attempted appeals, it was ascertained by the Commission that the Exposition Company questioned the right of the Commission to inquire into or in any manner to pass upon the justice or regularity of any award made.  The company having submitted certain proposed amendments to the rules and regulations, the Commission undertook by further amendments to settle the question as to the right of the company to refuse to submit awards made to the Commission for its approval, as required by law.  The right of the Commission to even inquire into charges of fraud, bribery, or corruption in connection with awards the company steadily denied and never conceded.

In the records of the Commission filed with this report will be found charges under oath against a division chief, alleging that he was a party to negotiations for a bribe of $2,000 to be paid on the awarding of the grand prize to a certain manufactured article, and that when the matter was brought to his attention his only explanation was that he had declined to be the stakeholder or custodian of the money because of possible criticism in case the transaction should become public.  This individual was a member of the group jury, a member of the department jury of his department, and a member of the superior jury.

The Commission felt that investigation of such serious charges was absolutely necessary to guarantee the integrity of the awards.

On October 18, 1904, Commissioner Allen, as acting president of the Commission, set forth the existing status of the case in a letter to Hon. D.R.  Francis, president of the Exposition Company, reading as follows: 

    OCTOBER 18, 1904.

SIR:  On October 11 the National Commission sent to the local company a communication suggesting certain amendments to an amendment to the rules and regulations governing the system of awards sent us by the Exposition Company.  To date we have not received reply to the communication referred to, nor have we heard from your company, excepting a visit from Judge Wilbur F. Boyle, a member of your executive committee, who called on the Commission on Friday, October 14, in relation to this matter.

The amendments suggested by this Commission