APPENDIX IX. 



Documents Eelating to the World's Columbian Exposition. 



AN ACT to provide for celcbratinjr the four hundredth anniversary of the discovery of America by 

 Christopher Columbus by holding an international exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, 

 and the products of the soil, mine, and sea in the city of Chicago, in the State of Illinois. 



"Whereas, it is fit and appropriate that the four liuudredtli anuiversary of tlie 

 discovery of America be commemorated by an exhibition of the resources of the 

 United States of America, their devehipment, and of the progress of civilization in 

 the New World; and 



Whereas, Such an exhibition should be of a national and international character, 

 so that not only the people of our Union and this continent, but those of all nations 

 as well, can participate, and should therefore have the sanction of the Congress 

 of the United Stares : Therefore, 



Be it enacted hi/ the Senate and House of L'epresentatives of the United States of America 

 in Con<jress assemhied, That an exhibition of arts, industries, manufactures, and 

 products of the soil, mine, and sea shall be inaugurated in the year eighteen hun- 

 dred 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 conniiissioners from eacli State and 

 Territory of the United States and from the District of Columbia and eight commis- 

 sioners at large, is hereby constituted to be designated as the World's Columbiau 

 Commission. 



Sec. 3. That said commissioners, two Irom each State and Territory, shall be 

 appointed within tliirty 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 commissioners at large, 

 who shall assume and perform the duties of such commissioner or commissioners as 

 may be unable to attend the meetings of the said commission ; and in such nomina- 

 tions and appointments each of the two leading political parties shall be equally 

 represented. 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. 



Sec. 4. That tlie Secretary of State of the United States shall, immediately after 

 the passage of this act, notify the governors of the several States and Territories, 

 respectively, thereof and request such nominations to be made. The commissioners 

 so ajjpointed shall be called together by the Secretary of State of the United States 

 in the city of Chicago, by notice to the commissioners, as soon as convenient after 

 the aiipointment of said commissioners, and within thirty days thereafter. The 

 said commissioners, at said first meeting, shall organize by the election of stich 

 offlcers and the appointment of such committees as they may deem expedient, and 

 for this ])iiri)()se tlie commissioners present at said meeting shall constitute a 

 quorum. 

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