ps to put an end to the excessive and
improper issuance of free passes. Mr. Thurston was assured by Judge
Ferris that he would immediately consult with the exposition officials
and endeavor to secure such action on their part as would meet the views
and wishes of the Commission.

As there was no apparent cessation in the distribution of passes, the
president of the Commission, on May 31, addressed the following
communication to the president of the Exposition Company:

MAY 31, 1904.

SIR: Under date of May 26 Secretary Stevens transmitted to the
National Commission what he denominated "The rules and
regulations governing and restricting the issuance and use of
passes," as adopted by the company and now in operation. This
communication, with the rules referred to attached, was
obviously intended as an answer to the communication of the
Commission to the company on that subject under dates of May 10
and May 19.

I am directed by the Commission to call your attention to the
following sentence contained in my letter of 19th, above
referred to, to wit:

"Persons not entitled to admission to the grounds under article
5 of the rules and regulations can only be legally and properly
admitted by the Exposition Company with the approval of the
National Commission."

With that proposition the answer of the executive committee of
your company takes issue by submitting what you evidently deemed
a sufficient answer through rules and regulations adopted by the
company and now in operation, without the approval of the
Commission.

The Commission understands that the following issues arise from
this letter and the correspondence to which it refers, to wit:

First. That the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company asserts
and is exercising the asserted right to formulate and put into
operation rules and regulations governing and restricting the
issuance and use of free passes to the exposition grounds,
without submitting such rules and regulations to the Commission
and obtaining its approval thereof.

Second. That the Louisiana Purchase Exposition Company asserts
and is acting upon the assertion of its alleged right, through
its officers and agents, to issue free passes to the exposition
grounds without the concurrence or approval of the National
Commission, expressed through general rules or re