, 1876-04-30
CENTENNIAL.
The Commissioners Decide to Close
the Ground on Sunday-EOreiEn Ex-
hibitors Indignant Thercat..

The Com issionerA Decide to Close
the Ground on Sunday-EoreiEn Ex-
| hibitors indignant Thercat.
SPECIAL Diepatch to 7ha Chicago Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa, April 29.-The action Of
the Centennial Commission in deciding to close
! the Exhibition Grounds and Buildings On Sum-
| days has caused moro excitement than
Philadelphia has known any time this
year. Not 10 much among the natives,
| either. They, as = rule, are = quiet people,
inheriting the staid and mornl department OF
ther Quaker ancestors, and they rather approve
the measure; but to the large class OF foreign
ers and residents Of other cities who are already
swarming in tho hotsls' and lodging houses the
announcement is as disagreeable as it ia uoe1-
uected. Around the Continental this evening
crowds are discussing the situation 80 animated
II as to produce quita the appear
ance OF al indignation meeting. The
French and German exhibitors are particu-
larly incensed. Du Sommerard, tho chief
OF the French Commission, stated to your cor
respondent that the order closing the grounds
on Sunday could only be regarded as most
marked d;scourtesy to the foreign visitors, who
would be compelled to waste just one-seventh
OF the time SET apart by them for the purpose Of
seeing tbs exhibition. In view Of the fact that
the expenses were to bo 50 sxtravagant be did
not think it right for tho Commission to force
their Puritanical ideas upon the people at large
Tbs question came before the Committee BY
report prepared by committee consisting OF
Mesars. Corliss, of Rhode Island, Sweeney Of
West Virginia, Grilfiths, Of Ohio, Donaldson, Of
Idaho, and Gurney. OF South Carolina, setting
forth the precedents established by previous e1-
hibitons, and claiming that the best interests OF
both the public and the exhibitors would be
serveo by the proposed innovation, and the re-
port Was discussed for several hours, and finally
adopted By d vote OF 81 to Q.
On Monday will como up the equally import
ant question in regard to the sale Of liquors On
the grounds, and thfs WAS talked over in an IN.
wieldy way By the Commission on Thursday
aud was referred to committee consisting of
Aesors Atwood OF Wisconsin Latiobe, Cd
MARYLAND, aud Peters, of Georgia, uho reporto
in favor Of allowing such sale, and it mas
finally referred back to the Committee for fur
ther consideration
This afternoon, and the Exhibition Building
and tho grounds present . chaotic appearance
that is dlsoouraging to tho chance visitor.
Nothing il complete. There are no arrange
men;s ln the uain-ha1l. Almost the entire area
is covered With huge mountains Of uoopacked
boxes, which the feeble efforts Of the few en-
ployes seem totally incompetent to handle and
roduce. 1t is positively beyond doubt that the
Exhibition will be far nehindhand on the open
ing day.
New ALBANY Ind April 29.-The large plate
glass manufactured By the Star Glass Company, |
OF this place, and the largest ono over made ln
America, and Of superb size and finish, designed |
expressly for the Indiana headquarters at the !
Centennial, was unfortunately broken to-day in |
the PROCESS Of boxing. I