I have had considerable experience in handling bids and being present when bids are opened, and I never before saw such proceedings as took place in the meeting room of the salvage committee on November 10, 1904. I am sure that had the Exposition Company properly advertised the sale and furnished a list of the property to be disposed of, which I have since seen published in a catalogue gotten out by the Chicago House Wrecking Company and listed in the contract between the Exposition Company and the Wrecking Company, was turned over to the Chicago House Wrecking Company, that much higher bids would have been made, and considerably more money realized from the sale than they received from the Chicago House Wrecking Company. Between the 15th and 20th of December, 1904, I came in possession of one of the catalogues that the Chicago House Wrecking Company sent out, showing all the property they had for disposal. It contained cuts and descriptions and computations that would take at least one month or more to compile and print. I have had considerable experience in getting up catalogues of material and property, and am confident that they could not have compiled all the figures, secured all the cuts and descriptions, and had the catalogue printed and on the market in a month's time. I consider the manner in which the bids were handled very irregular, and that the awarding of the contract to the Chicago House Wrecking Company for $450,000, in view of the amount and value of the property turned over to them, as shown by their catalogue and their contract, to have been detrimental to the interests of the United States, the city of St. Louis, and the stockholders of the Exposition Company. GEORGE J. SCHMITT. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 28th day of March, 1905. My commission expires on the 9th day of November, 1908. [SEAL.] S.E. KELLOGG. STATE OF ILLINOIS, _County of Cook, 88_: Personally appeared before me this 28th day of March, 1905, Mr. John M. Dunphy, who, being duly sworn, on his oath says: My name is John M. Dunphy; I reside in the city of Chicago; I have resided here for the past forty-seven years. I was city treasurer of Chicago for one term; was commissioner of buildings for one term in this city; I have been engaged in the contracting business for the past forty years; I have been in the employ of Mr. S. Krug, contractor, of Chicago, for the past three years; I am very familiar with construction and wrecking work. In regard to the sale of the salvage of the St. Louis Exposition I desire to make the following statement: