Now, in view of what I have said, we feel that we will give you the $15,000 for your building if you insist upon it; that is, we have made the appropriation of $35,000 for the creche. The $15,000 toward the equipment of the Woman's Building, under the circumstances—it seems to me, we should be relieved of that $15,000. I thought when I returned from Washington that the financial worry had been met, but I have realized within the past forty-eight hours that we can not open the exposition within the nineteen and one-half millions. We will not go back to Washington, however. We are economizing in every possible way. * * *
An official communication was received by the president of the board of lady managers stating that in the draft of the contract between the Exposition Company and the Treasury Department—
It is provided that from the first payment of $1,000,000 there shall be set aside by the Exposition Company $100,000 to be paid to the board of lady managers according to the provisions of the act and for no other purpose whatsoever.
The attention of the Exposition Company was called to this provision, and on March 5, 1904, the two following letters were received:
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
Office of the Secretary, March 5, 1904.
MADAM PRESIDENT: I am directed by President Francis to inform you that the executive committee has approved the requisition of the board of lady managers for $100,000, made available to said board from the Government loan by special act of Congress, as set forth in the resolution adopted by the board March 3, 1904.
Acting in accordance with the instructions of the executive committee, the president has this day deposited, out of the Government loan, the sum of $100,000 with the treasurer, Mr. William H. Thompson, said sum to be drawn out by the board of lady managers in accordance with the resolutions adopted by the board; that is to say, to be "subject to draft of the treasurer of said board, countersigned by the president of the board."
Very respectfully, WALTER B. STEVENS, Secretary.
The PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF LADY MANAGERS,
Administration Building.
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING,
Office of the Secretary, March 5, 1904.