744 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



phia, State of Pennsylvania, in the 3^ear 187G," approved June 1, 1872, 

 the Centennial Board of Finance was incorporated, with authority to 

 raise the capital necessary to carry into effect the provisions of the 

 said act of March 3, 1871; and 



Whereas the President of the United States, in compliance with a 

 joint resolution of Congress approved June 6, 1874, did "extend, in 

 the name of the United States, a respectful and cordial invitation 

 to the governments of other nations to be represented and take part 

 in the International Exposition to be held at Philadelphia under the 

 auspices of the Government of the United States," and as the govern- 

 ments so invited, to the number of thirty-eight, have so accepted such 

 invitation, and many of them are making extensive preparations to 

 embrace the courtes}^ so extended to them, thereby rendering proper 

 arrangements for the coming ceremonies on the part of the Govern- 

 ment of the United States a matter of honor and good faith; and 



Whereas the preparations designed by the United States Centennial 

 Commission, and in part executed by the Centennial Board of Finance, 

 are in accordance with the spirit of the acts of Congress relating 

 thereto and are on a scale creditable to the Government and people of 

 the United States: Therefore, 



JBe it enacted^ etc.^ That the sum of $1,600,000, to complete the 

 Centennial buildings and other preparations, be, and the same is 

 hereby, appropriated, out of any moneys in the United States Treasury 

 not otherwise appropriated, which shall be paid on the drafts of the 

 president and treasurer of the Centennial Board of Finance, one-third 

 immediately after the passage of this act and the remainder in four 

 equal monthly payments: Provided, That in the distribution of any 

 moneys that may remain in the treasury of the Centennial Board of 

 Finance after the payment of its debts, as provided for by the tenth 

 section of the act of Congress approved June 1, 1872, incorporating 

 said Centennial Board of Finance, the appropriation hereinbefore 

 made shall be paid in full into the Treasury of the United States 

 before any dividend or percentage of the profits shall be paid to the 

 holders of said stock: Provided also^ That the Government of the 

 United States shall not, under any circumstances, be liable for any 

 debt or obligation of the United States Centennial Commission or 

 the Centennial Board of Finance or any payment in addition to the 

 foregoing sum. 



Sec. 2. That the money by this act appropriated shall be paid to 

 the treasurer of the Centennial Board of Finance only after he and 

 the president of the board shall have executed a bond in the sum of 

 $500,000 to the United States, with sufficient security, to be approved 

 by the Secretary of the Treasury, for the safe-keeping and faithful 

 disbursement of the sum hereby appropriated. 



(Stat., XIX, 3.) 



