ACTS AND RESOLUTIONS OK CONGRESS RELATIVE TO THE 

 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, NATIONAL MUSEUM, ETC. 



(Ill coutinuation from proYious reports.) 



[Fifty-first Coiiifi-ess, tirst sessiou, l.s8y-'i.»0.] 



CiiAr. 156. — AN ACT to provide for celebratiny; the four btindredtli auuiver.sary of 

 the discevery of America by Christopher Coluiubiis by holdiuo- an intematioual 

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

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



Whereas, It is lit aud appropriate that the four hundredth auni- 

 versury of the discovery of America be commemorated by au exhibi- 

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

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



Whereas, Such an exhibition should be of a national aud interna- 

 tional character, so that not only the peoi)le of our Union and this con- 

 tiueiit, 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 hy the ISenate and House of Represeiitatlves of the United 

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

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

 shall be inaugurated in the year eighteen 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 Territoiy of the United States and 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 api)ointed within thirty days from the passage of this a(;t by 

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

 of the States and Territories, res[>ectively, and by the President eight 

 commissioners at large and two Irom 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 and appoint- 

 ments ea(;h of the two leading i)olitical 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 

 liereiu for their original appointment. 



XXXV 



