The New York herald., 1876-07-07
THE EXHIBITION.
Sunday Opening Discussed Before
the Centennial Commission.
The Michigan State Building
Opened.
A GLANCE At THE AMERICAN JEWELRY

calling Of the roll Mr. Donaldson stated that
he desired to call attention 10 paragraph in the re-
port OF the Executive Committee which he regarded
~ being unduy biased The subject referred TO was
read, Observation-Disclosures petitions, memorials
and resolutions have been from all parts Of
the country sustaining the action OF the CON-
mission IN closing the Exhibition on sunday, and SIM
liar documents upon tho other side of the question
have also been received which emanate mainly from
The city OF Philadelphia"
He objected TO this because on its face insinuaed
that the whole country ndorsed the closing Sunday
and that people of Philadelphia alone were favor of
opening that day. In order the speakers, who
would appear before the commission at two O'Clock,
might have basis for their remarks, no offered tho
following resolution -
Resolved That the Exhibition of 1876 shall opened to
exhibitor shall be compeied to be present npon Sunday
neither shall steam be used in Machinery Hail on Sunday
motion was made to lay this on the table, but Mr.
Donaldson stated he did ask upon 1t, he
only desired to present IL a for those who
woud appear at clock. The motion to lay the
liable agreed to.
TIN roURTH OF July CELEBRATION
Mr. Latrope, OF Maryland chairman Of the
mttce appointed to prepare the resolution OF thanks
10 those gentlemen who volunteered their services in
the opening ceremonies the occasion Of the Fourth
Of July celebration presented resolutions of thanks to
the following ns-Wiiliam ~ Evarts, Richard Henry
Lee, Bayard Taylor, Mr.. T. Whittier, Sidney Lannier.
Oliver Wendell Holmes and resolution requesting
Eon Hamilton Fish to express the thanks OF the COM
mission TO the Emperor Dom Pedro OF Brazil for the
anthem written under his direction by Senior Carlos
Comes
a suggestion by Mr. Donaldson add the OF
Vice President Ferry, for the admirable manner In
which he presided the Fourth of July celebration
led TO discussion in which 1t conended by many
Of tho Commissioners that as the celebration had been
gwen under government patronage and the Vice Presi
dent had represented the President in his official ca
pacty, formal vote OF thanks would be supcrfuous
DURING the discussion several members expressed
their disappointment in the absence of President
Grant on the occasion Mr Donaldson finally with
drew his motion, when the commission went into
executive session and subsequently took brief
SUNDAY QUESTION
Al two O'Clock the commission reassembled, Pres-
hent Hawley in the chair. The unusually largo audi
sncc present included many gentlemen prominently
identified In Philadelphia and elsewhere with the sun
lay opening question, the consideration OF which had
been assigned the special order OF business. The
subject introduced by the statement OF the Chair
in calling attention to petition containing 60 900
names which had just been presented by members OF
the Committee of Thirteen appointed Philadelphia
Sunday opening meeting OF May "a also communica
hons expressing the sentiments OF delberative
bodics-y,z one from the National Liberal League
in favor OF opening, ono from tue National Reform
or Religious Amendment Association and one from the
National Sunday School Convention III avo. Of keeping
the Exhibition closed
Upon the announcement being made that a number
OF representatives of these bodies present and
desired TO be heard discussion ersued as to tho
length Of time 10 be accorded each speaker. Fifteen
minutes and halt hour suggested and the lat
ter limit nnay determined upon the first speaker
Mr. George W. Bddlc. OF Philade ph;s, remarkpg that
lie would not occupy one-half of fifteen ,pluues
Mr. Biddle, the spokesman of the Committee of
Thirteen, in opening the discussion in behalf OF
open Exhibtiou on Sunday. said that, in view of tho
very iuli argument on the subject made by him be-
tore the Executive Committee some s. weeks ago he
would refrain from entering upon the abstract merits
Of the issue. HIS associates and himself present
the representatives OF the CO. 900 petitioners whose
appended To the paper already referred to-
also OF the sgners of petitions OF less mag
ntude, one containing the names OF 500 holders ot
Centennial stock. He had been instructed and, from
the character Of those from whom he acquired the
instruction, believed that these all genuine sigma
lures
The opponents OF opening had asserted with somo
sa-nestbess that their petitions represented the sent
nents OF more than halt million persons, notwith-
standing that the signatures we're not ore-ha
me. those OF the other side and upon the
Damc reasoning the speaker held the 900 petit
TONERS could safely Claim that they represented the
sentiments of 600 600 OF people In support OF tins
said the of the latter had obtained
without any special extraordinary effort and without
tine cooperation of great organizations ready
such as those which had given their influence and
Iabors In AID OF keeping the Exhibition closed. The
only organized effort Tor opening simply such
Nr Wilbur the secretary OF the Committee OF Thr-
teen had made. BY way OF disprovng the assumption
OF other side that the aborng classes themselves
did not ask for the opening OF the Exhibition Sun
iy the speaker stated the result OF investigation
TO the standing OF one laboring shmentthe
Baldwin Locomotive Worss-that out OF total of
100 employees ], 1876 signed the petition tor opening
He believed that throughout the city division OF all
,peratves upon this question would show the same
proportion As Illustrating the character OF tho
aasses OF represent ed among the Sunday opening
,etitioners, he mentioned from among the the
,amcs of a few OF the beet known, among whom was
Mr John A. Wright, acting member OF the firm OF
Peter Wright Co firm through whose ability,
.spital and enterprise Americans were enabled TO
shat mt least limo OF transatlantic floats
The American flag.
Another was Mr. Blankenburg, a German by birth
and citizen by adoption. who in this matter repre-
,entcd least 100 600 Of his fellow citizens Mr. Blank
snburg followed favor OF opening, contending that
The sentiment OF the working people emphatcaliy
in this direction He said that in only one OF the work.
shops visited by the members OF the committee In the
lower part OF the city had the operatives not sgned
and this shop, which employed only twenty
men, the only TO which the committee
had been refused admission. He also made
appeal In behaf OF working women employed from
Monday morning till saturday night, whose day oi
recreation at the Exhibition was denied them by the
Sunday closing In this connection he called attcn-
lion 10 petition tw hch he presented signed bv 344
working women. He proceeded argue that II the
Exhibition was demorsnxing or INJURIOUS and to DO
kept closed day OF the week Tor that reason 1t
should he closed entirely but II calculated to do good
should be opened every day in the week Concerning
the objection that the law did Eot allow the opening
on sunday he expressed the belief that II referred to
the Solicitor that question would be decided, as was
that the sale of hquor within the grounds. sup
port OF The authority OF the commission within the
precincts set apart by national statute
Amer further discussion by the friends OF the Sunday
closing arrangement II was Analy ordered that
decisive vote upon the question would be taken at
twelve O'Clock Al. tomorrow. Adjourned
MICHIGAN BrILpiSo OPENED.
The Michigan state Building formally opened
yesterday afternoon by Governor j. j. Bagley, OF
Michigan. who held reception al the building
lrotn twelve to three O'Clock. This structure
Is one OF the most artlstically designed and
huely nnisned State buildings on the grounds,
i.e airy and graceful proportions OF the
superslructure eliminating In nigh villa tower
she south side The building made entirely OF native
woods aud interior is adorned with rich engravDgs
pt oiled and polished wood OF every variety grown
the state IL rs handsomely though not extravaganty
rp,sned throughout, and the parior tho second
aoor is a gem OF comfort and good TASTE Al the
openng OF the building yesterday II was
almost Immediately thfongcd witn visitors, large
proportion OF whom were from Michigan. Governor
Bagley took position the west side VI the Assem-
by Room in front OF banner bearing the State coat
Of arms and courteously welcomed the visitors as they
we're presented. Among the more prominent gentle
men nom the State noticeable the throng Ad-
Iutant General John Robinson, Qusrermaster General
n Inan lscner 4. IrnMhrnrc