We do not hesitate to affirm that California's participation at the
Seattle Exposition was a success from every point of view, and knowing
our trust was conscientiously performed, and that our best efforts
were exerted in the interest of our State, we dare to hope that you
who trusted us are not disappointed, and that the people of California
who generously advanced the money for the work are satisfied with
the showing made, and that they will reap substantial and lasting
benefit as the result of their enterprise and liberality. We want to
thank you sincerely for the confidence reposed in us, for your kindly
co-operation and advise, and particularly for the generous rein given
to us in carrying out a work for which you, in the eyes of the law,
were primarily responsible. Our studied efforts were continually
directed toward trying to get the greatest results at the least cost,
for, though handling a generous appropriation, we never lost sight of
the fact that it was the people's money, and consequently we consented
to the expenditure of a dollar only where in our judgement a dollar's
worth or more benefit would accrue to California; neither did we lose
sight of the high standard which has characterized your course in the
handling of public affairs. We acted on the principle that public
office is a public trust, and that public money should be handled with
greater care than one would handle his own.
The following pages contain a complete list of the awards made to
California exhibitors and a statement of all moneys received and
expended, and accompanying this report we hand you the vouchers showing
all our transactions and just how the money was expended. We have
settled every honorable claim, we have concluded the work in full, even
to the distribution of the awards, and if there is a dollar left to go
back into the Treasury it is because that dollar was not needed for the
full satisfaction of the duties imposed.
Respectfully,
J. A. FILCHER,
FRANK WIGGINS,
Governor's Representatives.