APPENDIX A. ABSTRACT OF THE JOURNAL OF THE CENTENNIAL There have been eight sessions of the United States Centennial Commission, viz. : The Centennial Commission, having organized, proceeded to meet the Mayor, Select Abstract of and Common Councils, and representatives of corporate bodies of the city of Philadelphia, in Independence Hall; Accepted invitations to visit the rooms of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania; To view the art gallery of Messrs. Porter & Coates, publishers, and their copy of To attend the stated meeting of City Councils; To visit the club-house of the Union League of Philadelphia; To visit Carpenter's Hall; To meet the President of the United States at the residence of Mr. George W. Childs; To visit Fairmount Park with the Committee of Councils on the Centennial Anniver sary and the Park Commissioners; To visit the rooms of the Library Company of Philadelphia, and of the Mercantile Library Company; Adopted resolutions, "That the site for holding the International Exhibition in 1876 be fixed at Fairmount Park, within the corporate limits of the city of Philadelphia;" "That the arrangement and classification of objects [shown in the Exhibition] shall be both geographical and systematic, and that a committee of three be appointed by the President to prepare and report a system of classification and arrangement combining these two elements;" "That the Committee on Plans and Architecture be requested to report at the May meeting sketches of plans for a building or inclosure to contain about fifty acres of floor Journal. 1st Session. Abstract of Journal. 1st Session. space, with estimates of the cost of such a structure as in their judgment may be deemed necessary;" "That the Governors of the several States and Territories be requested, through State organizations, to assist and co-operate with the Commissioners appointed by them, in the matter of State legislation, if required, and in every other way that may awaken an interest and tend to promote and bring to the best results the objects of this Commission;" Heard an address from Mr. Wm. P. Blake, Alternate Commissioner of Connecticut, upon "Previous International Exhibitions ;"* Instructed, by resolution, the Committee on Legislation to visit the Japanese Embassy, in Washington, to inform them of the intended Exhibition, "and to solicit the personal action of the Embassy to enlist the interest of the Imperial Government and people of Japan in a full representation of the arts, industry, and products of their nation;" Adopted the By-Laws hereto appended; and Completed its organization by naming its permanent officers and standing committees. BY-LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES CENTENNIAL COM MISSION. ARTICLE I. OFFICIAL TITLE. This body shall be known as "The United States Centennial Commission," as provided for by the Act of Congress approved March 3, 1871, and the celebration for the conduct of which the Commission is appointed shall be known as "The International Exhibition of 1876." ARTICLE II. QUORUM. A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of the Commissioners representing not less than thirteen States and Territories. ARTICLE III. POWER OF ALTERNATE COMMISSIONER. An Alternate Commissioner shall have all the powers of a Commissioner when the Commissioner is not present at any meeting. When the Commissioner is present the Alternate may participate in the debates, and serve on committees, but shall have no vote. ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS OF THE COMMISSION. The officers of the Commission shall consist of a President and five Vice-Presidents, all of whom shall be chosen from among the members of this Commission. They shall be elected at the first stated meeting. The terms of the officers then elected shall expire on the first Wednesday of May, 1873; after which time the officers elected shall hold for one year. In case of a failure to elect at the time specified, the officers then serving shall continue until the choice of their successors. ARTICLE V. ELECTION OF A SECRETARY. The Commission shall, at a subsequent stated meeting, elect a Secretary, who shall hold his office at the pleasure of the Commission: Provided, That until such election a member of the Commission shall be chosen to act as Temporary Secretary. * Mr. Blake's address is printed in full in the Journal of the first session, pp. 53-66. ARTICLE VI. ELECTION OF TREASURER. A Treasurer shall be elected by the Commission; he shall give security in such a sum, and of such a character, as to meet the approval of the Executive Committee, or such other committee as may be designated by the Commission. ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The President shall nominate, subject to the approval of the Commission, at its first session, an Executive Committee, consisting of seven members. The said committee shall have power to act on such questions as shall arise during the recess of the Commission, subject to the approval of the Commission at its next stated meeting. A majority of its members shall constitute a quorum, and shall have power to make such regulations for their own government as to them shall seem proper. They shall elect such officers and agents as they shall deem necessary; shall define their duties, and fix their compensation. They shall report, fully, all their transactions to the Commission, from time to time, for approval. In case of any vacancy happening when the Commission is not in session, the same shall be filled by the President, subject to confirmation by the Commission at the next stated meeting. ARTICLE VIII. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Commission; he shall appoint all committees unless otherwise ordered; he shall, at the request of the Executive Committee, call special meetings of the Commission, giving not less than thirty (30) days' notice to each member, and shall have all the powers and privileges incident to the position of presiding officer; he shall be ex-officio member of all committees. ARTICLE IX. DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS. A Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, perform his duties, each taking precedence in accordance with the order of his election. ARTICLE X. DUTIES OF SECRETARY. The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence of the Commission; he shall receive and carefully file all documents relative to the business of the Commission. He shall be present at the office of the Commission, in the city of Philadelphia, and carry out any orders of the Commission or the Executive Committee; he shall keep minutes of all transactions, and at each meeting, or when required, report all matters of interest to the Commission and the Executive Committee. All books, documents, and papers in his possession shall, at all times, be open to the inspection of any member. ARTICLE XI. DUTIES OF TREASURER. The Treasurer shall hold all moneys belonging to the Commission. He shall deposit the same in such depository as may be designated by the Commission, and draw the same only on proper warrants of the authorized officer. He shall keep accurate accounts of all the receipts and expenditures, and shall report the same, in detail, to the Executive Committee quarterly, or oftener, if required by them, and also at each meeting of the Commission. His books shall, at all times, be open to any one of the Commissioners. Abstract of 1st Session. Abstract of Journal. 1st Session. ARTICLE XII. PAYMENT OF MONEYS. No money shall be drawn from the Treasury of the Commission except on specific appropriations made by the Commission or the Executive Committee, and under such rules and restrictions as the Executive Committee shall prescribe. ARTICLE XIII. STANDING COMMITTEES. The President shall appoint the following committees, to hold for one year, or until discharged by the Commission:-A Committee on Finance, to consist of five (5) members; a Committee on Plans and Architecture, to consist of seven (7) members; a Committee on Tariffs and Transportation, to consist of seven (7) members; a Committee on Foreign Affairs, to consist of five (5) members; and a Conimittee on Opening Ceremonies, to consist of five (5) members, to whom shall be referred such matters as appropriately belong to their respective duties. ARTICLE XIV. STATED MEETINGS. Stated annual meetings of the Commission shall be held on the first Wednesday of May of each year after 1872. ARTICLE XV. RULES OF PARLIAMENTARY LAW. The rules of Parliamentary Law, as laid down in Cushing's Manual, shall be the rules governing the deliberations of the Commission, except when they conflict with the provisions of these By-Laws. ARTICLE XVI. AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS. Amendments to these By-Laws shall only be made at a meeting of the Commission, as provided for in the fifth section of the Act of Congress. The Commission heard and adopted reports from The Executive Committee, reporting its action since the adjournment of the Commission in March, detailing the considerations which had led to its application to Congress for the incorporation of the Centennial Board of Finance, and urging the propriety of a governmental appropriation to cover the expenses of the Commission;* The Committee on Plans and Architecture, stating that it had held numerous conferences with committees representing the architects of Philadelphia, New York, and Boston; and urging the Commission to decide upon the site and other preliminary details essential to further progress; also, a further report specifying the manner in which architects should be invited to compete for the premiums offered for the best plans;† The Committee on Foreign Affairs, submitting the General Regulations which should accompany the Proclamation of the President of the United States, inviting foreign nations to participate in the Exhibition;‡ The Committee on Foreign Affairs, recommending that the President of the United States be requested to appoint three members of the Centennial Commission to act as United States Commissioners at the International Exhibition at Vienna in 1873; The Committee on Legislation, stating that, in accordance with instructions received at the first session, it had visited the Japanese Embassy at Washington (March 14, 1872), had conveyed to the ambassadors the desire of the Centennial Commission that Japan should be fully represented in the Exhibition, and had received from them assurances that they would cordially interest themselves in the matter; * The (first) Report of the Executive Committee is printed in full in the Journal of the second session, PP. 94-101. + Full details of the work of the Committee on Plans and Architecture are given in the Report of the Director-General, p. 29. The report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which embodies the substance of the General Regulations as ultimately adhered to, is printed in the Journal of the second session, pp. 110, 111; see also 112, 121. 2d Session. |