ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS OF CONGRESS RELATIVE TO THE 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL MUSEUM, ETC. 



(lu coutiuuation from previous reports.) 



[Fifty-first Congress, first session, 1889-'U0. ] 



Chap. 156.— AN ACT to provide for celebratiug the four buudredth anniversary of 

 the discovery of America by Christopher Columbus by holding an international 

 exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, and the product of the soil, mine, 

 and sea in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois. 



Wbereas, It is fit aud appropriate that the four hundredth anni- 

 versary of the discovery of America be commemorated by an exhibi- 

 tion of the resources of the United States of America, their develop- 

 ment, and of tlie progress of civilization of the New World ; and 



Whereas, Such an exhibition should bo of a national and interna- 

 tional character, so that not only the people of our Union and this con- 

 tinent, but those of all nations as welL can participate, and should 

 therefore have the sanction of the Congress of the United States; 

 Therefore, 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That an exhibition of arts, 

 industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine, and sea 

 shall be inaugurated in the year eigbteen hundred and ninety-two, in 

 the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois, as hereinafter provided. 



Sec. 2. That a commission, to consist of two commissioners from 

 each State and Territory of the United States aud from the District of 

 Columbia and eight commissioners at large, is hereby constituted to 

 be designated as the World's Columbian Commission. 



Sec. 3. That said commissioners, two from each State and Territory, 

 shall be appointed within thirty days from the passage of this act by 

 the President of the United States, on the nomination of the governors 

 of the States and Territories, respectively, and by the President eight 

 commissioners at large and two from the District of Columbia; and in 

 the same manner and within the same time there shall be appointed 

 two alternate commissioners from each State and Territory of the 

 United States and the District of Columbia and eight alternate com- 

 missioners at large, who shall assume and perform the duties of such 

 commissioner or commissioners as may be unable to attend the meet- 

 ings of the said commission ; and in such nominations aud appoint- 

 ments each ot the two leading political parties shall be equally repre- 

 sented. Vacancies in the commission nominated by the governors of 

 the several States and Territories, respectively, and also vacancies in 

 the commission at large and from the District of Columbia may be 

 filled in the same manner and under the same conditions as provided 

 herein for their original appointment. 



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