First. That secrecy was observed in handling the bids for the wrecking of buildings. Answer. It was the judgment of the salvage committee that better results could be obtained if secrecy was observed, in so far that the amounts of bids were not made public until the sale was accomplished. The wisdom of this judgment was vindicated in the amount realized for the salvage when compared with the lower bids. Second. That the Chicago House Wrecking Company was favored from the beginning. Answer. This is utterly false. Third. 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. Fourth. That only a partial list of the property, which did not include many valuable articles, was submitted to bidders outside of the Chicago House Wrecking Company, and that a complete list was refused other bidders. Answer. No complete list was submitted to the Chicago House Wrecking Company or to any other bidder. The Exposition Company, through the salvage committee and the executive committee, with deliberate intent refused to furnish any list purporting to be complete. Fifth. That a written offer of $400,000 cash, and more, if lists could be secured, was ignored. Answer. No such offer was received. Sixth. That a bid of $450,000, half cash, was presented to the Exposition Company after the announcement of the sale of the salvage to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $386,000. Answer. No such bid of $450,000 was received; the Chicago House Wrecking Company did not make a bid for $386,000. Seventh. That the contract was eventually given to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000, with contract provisions inferior to the former $450,000 bid made by a party outside the Chicago House Wrecking Company. Answer. This statement is not true. There had been no bid of $450,000 on any terms when the sale was closed. The contract provisions were superior to any made in the bids. Eighth. That the contract with the Chicago House Wrecking Company does not adequately protect the Government, the city of St. Louis, and the stockholders, the $40,000 bond being out of all proportion to the size of the sale.