Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-01-02
WASHINGTON LETTER
THE PRESIDENTS WORLDS FAIR
PROCLAMATION.
A National Bankruptcy Law in Ur
gent Demand.
A Summary of the Happenings o,
the Past Week.

!
the Past Week.
Tho decision that Chicago had estab-
lished within the intent of the law, that
$40, coo, 600 had been pledged to make the
worlds far a success, and that all the legal
preliminary requirements 10 the issuance
OF his proclamation had been fulfilled, was
reached by the president Saturday after
noon. Congressman Butterworth and MIR.
Peck, who were anxious 10 have the proc
lamation come forth speedily for the bene-
fit of foreign exhibitors. went over the
! financial exhibit with the president and
removed all lingering doubts as to the
technical fulhllmcnt of all obligations.
The suggestion was made that IL would be
a Christmas greeting that would be highly
/ valued. and the president thereupon trans
mitted to the state department on the fol-
lowing Monday his request that the formal
document should lie prepared at once for his
signature. The parchment in the usual
diplomatic form was carried TO the presi-
dent shortly after midday by Mr.. S. A.
Brown. the chief clerk of the state depart
ment who is the functionary through
whom these little formalities are
carried on. The president was in his
Office talking with Secretary Proctor on the
Indian situation. The secretary of war,
Private Secretary Haliord ana Mr.. Brown
formed little group around the president
as he looked the paper over. and then, talk
ing up pen. affixed his signature just as
the clock indicated 1880. There were no
formalties about the occasion. The prcsi-
dent, after making the signature. handed
the pen TO Mr.. Halford with the suggestion
that perhaps Mr.. +. w. Peck of Chicago,
might desire it as a memento, and directed
that it be mailed TO Mr.. Peck The fol-
lowing is the language Of the proclama-
ton:
/, Benjamin Harrison, president OF the
United States, by virtue of the authority
vested in me by said act, do hereby declare
and proclaim that an international exhibit
ton will be opened on the LIST day of May
in the year 1898, in the city of Chicago, in
the state OF Illinois, and Will not be closed
before the last Thursday in October of the
same year. And in the name Of the gov
ernmeut and OF the people of the United
States ! do hereby invite all the nations OF
the earth TO take part in the commemora-
tion of an event that is pre-eminent in hu-
man history, and Of lasting interest TO man
kind, by appointing representatives thereto
and sending such exhibits to the Worlds
Columbian Exposition as will most fifty and
fully illustrate their resources their indus
tries, aud their progress in civilization.
In testimony whereof | have hereunto set
my hand and caused the seal of the United
States TO be affixed.
Done at the city Of Washington this
twenty-fourth day of December, one thou
sand, eight hundred and ninety, and of the
independence of the United States the one
hundred ana fifteenth.
BENJAMIN HARRISON.
BY the President:
JAMES G.. BLAINE,
Secretary of State.
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY LAW.
Senator Mitchell presented to the senate
Wednesday memorial from the Chamber
OF Commerce OF Portland. Ore, which en-
bodies concise and comprehensive state
ment as 10 how congress should act with
regard to bankruptcy legislation. The
memorial recites that the attempt Of the
states TO enact bankruptcy laws have
proved failures both because congress alone
has power 10 enact such laws and because OF
the practical imposs,b lily OF securing uni
fOrmity of action by the states. The me-
moral declares that the attempts OF the
several states constitutes vehement pro-
test against further delay by congress in
enacting bankruptcy law. That citizens
who reside at long distance from the centers
OF trade are entitled TO have a law enacted
that VIII make credits more secure and en-
able them TO purchase goods at all trade
centers at the lowest possible prices. That
in the newly settled states the hazards OF
business are greater than in the older
states, the opportunities for securing en-
plOyment in subordinate positions are less,
and il is therefore OF the utmost Importance
that men who have honestly failed shall be
discharged from their debts. That both
voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy are
necessary in the best interests Of the entire
community.
NOTES.
The matter Of the demand for a recount
Of the population of New York city. which
is before the house committee on the census
has gone over. While the committee viii
take up and formally consider the evidence
laid before it, there is "A general impression
that the matter was practically settled in
the house itself by the rejection OF the
amendment TO the apportionment bill
offered by Mr.. Washington OF Tennessee,
providing for recount in New York
city.
The treasury department has refused
request OF Wright Kay ~ Co. of Detroit,
Mich, for refund OF duties paid on GER
tain artificial eyes that were imported by
them. The first lot of eyes were found to
be defective and were returned TO the
manufacturer abroad and new lot import
ed in the stead, and upon each lot duty
had 10 be paid.
REX