The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-03-10

In the National House of Representatives
yesterday, Hon. d. j. Morrell, of Pennsyl-
vania, introduced bill to provide for the
proper celebration of the centennial anni-
versary of the signing of the Declaration of
Independence, to take place at Philadelphia
in the year 1876. The bill, which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Manufactures, is
an excellent preliminary step in the direction
Of definite arrangement for the grand
national event, and it ought to receive the
candid consideration of Congress. II pro-
vides for the creation of q commission, to
consist of not more than three delegates from
each State, whose duty il shall be to prepare
q plan for holding great international exhi-
bition, after conference with the authorities of
the city of Philadelphia and to select a suitable
site for the erection of the necessary build
ings within the corporate limits of the said
city. The commissioners are to be appointed
within one year after the passage of the act,
by the President of the United States, by
and with the advice and consent of the
Senate, and in addition to these, three alter
nate commissioners for each State are to be
appointed, who shall assume the place and
perform the duties of the original commits
sioners when they shall be unable from any
cause to attend the meetings of the commits
sion. The commission is to report to Con-
gress at its next session q complete plan for
the reception and classification of articles in
tended for exhibition; a suitable date for
opening and for closing; a schedule
of appropriate ceremonies for open
ing or dedicating the exhibition; a
plan or plans for proper build
ings; PLAZA for conducting the finances and
guaranteeing the expenses that may be in
eurred the requisite custom house regula-
tions fer the introduction into this country
of articles from foreign countries intended
for exhibition, and all other necessary details.
The commissioners are not to receive any COM
pensation, and their travelling expenses are
not to exceed the mileage of members of Con-
gress, and the commission is not authorized
to incur any expense, except for competent
clerk, unless authorized according to law.
Whenever the President of the United
| States shall be informed by the Governor of
the State of Pennsylvania that provision has
been made for the exclusive control by the
United States of the proposed exhibition, the
President is to make, by the Department of
State, proclamation of the same, setting
forth the year in which the exhibition will
take place, and the city in which it is to be
held and he is to communicate to the diplo-
matte representatives of all nations copies of
the same for publication in their respective
countries.
Independently of every other considera-
ton, there is an historical propriety in cele-
brating the centennial anniversary of the
signing of the Declaration of Independence
in Philadelphia that cannot be disputed, but
in addition to this there is no other city on
the continent that presents so many advan.
tages for the proper holding of a great in
ternational exhibition. New York some years
ago attempted to rival the first great exhibi
tion in London in 1851, and made dead fail
ure of it, which ought to obesufficient to prevent
Congress from attempting anything OF the
kind in that locality again. Here we have
ample space in our Park for all the necessary
buildings, and we have ample accommoda
tions for the comfortable lodging of all thu
strangers who may come to rejolce with us IL
the celebration of the one-hundredth anniver
sary of our national existence. There ar
certainly sufficient number of disinteresteC
men in Congress to acknowledge the prope
claims of Philadelphia in this matter, and W
do not doubt that all the essential features O
Mr.. Morrell's bill will receive the votes of
large majority of both houses.
THE BILL for the payment of the State His
torian and his clerical force for the last yea
was passed by the State Senate yesterday
with an amendment reducing the clerk hir
from $500 to $4,000. 1t would be matte
of great qualification to us if we could dis
cover what benefits are derived from tn
labors of the State Historian by anybody bu
himself. If in the matter of clerk hire alou
he contrives to run up bill of $500, wha
| ..s..rl liz .xu.a oxrannon ho2 M Co L. Al