The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-13

CHICAGO, May l2.-The Worlds Fair
gates will be swung wide open to the
public, and the question Of Sunday
opening is settled. To-day at the regu-
lar monthly meeting OF the local direct
ors Of the Worlds Fair it was decided to
open the gates OF Jackson Park to the
public for One.halt the price OF admit
tance to the fair during the week, viz,
twenty-five cents. This action has
nothing to do with the opening Of tho
buildings. The latter will remain closed,
as required under the laws passed by
Congress and agreed to when the sum
OF S2,5O0,00O was accepted from the
hands OF the Fifty-second Congress.
The gate keepers will admit to the
grounds every one paying twenty-five
cents. They can examine the buildings
on the outside-see everything there
is to be seen, in fact, but they cannot
enter the building. The action OF the
board will go into effect a week from
next Sunday, or on the 2lst OF this
month. Thevote by which tho resolution
passed was twenty-seven to seven.
Under the resolution Midway Plalsance
will also be thrown open. Mr.. Edwin
Walker, attorney for the board, SUBJ
mitted an opinion on the question and
on the strength OF this opinion the
board acted.
No provision was made for the return
OF any part OF the S2,50O.000 given to the
fair under that act OF Congress, but
there were vague tentative talk OF re-
funding the money somehow, some
time-in the uncertain future. Tho
votes, as explanations made by direc-
tors revealed, by no means showed tho
real convictions OF each member. Many
voted in the affirmative for tho purpose
OF forcing test OF tho matter and others
voted so with reservations and provisos.
Immediately after the roll call Presi-
dent Higinbotham recognized Attorney
Edwin Walker, who submitted the 70.
port upon which the boards action was
taken and which isin part as follows:
Congress appropriated S2,50O,0O0
and directed the secretary Of the treas
ury to pay the same to this corporation
upon certain condition. This corpo-
ration accepted the act and has fully
complied, upon its part, with all the
conditions and obligations thereto at.
taChed. The inquiry OF your president
is directed TO section 4 OF this act, which
in substance provides that such appro-
priation was made upon the further
condition that the exposition should
not be open to the public on the first
day OF the week commonly called Sun.
day, and further provides that II such
appropriation be accepted by this cor
poration it shall be, and i3 is hereby
made the duty OF the Worlds Colum.
bian commission created by an act Of
Congress, April %, 1890, to make such
rules or modification OF the rules Of said
commission as shall require the closing
Of the exposition on the said first day
the week, commonly called Sunday
after tho formal acceptance, rule
was adopted by the board OF directors,
providing that tho exposition should
be open for the admission Of visitors
for six months commencing on the first
day OF May and ending on the 90th day
OF October, 1893, on each day OF the
week, except on tho first day OF the
week, commonly called Sunday.
The substantial question under con-
sideration whether section 4 OF the act
OF August 8, 1902, and the rule adopted
in conformity Herewith, required the
exclusion Of the public from Jackson
park and Midway PlaisanCe on Sunday,
as well as from the buildings in which
the various exhibits arc installed. Sec
tion 5jprovides that said commission
be empowered in its discretion to ac-
copt, for tho purposes OF the Worlds
Columbian Expedition, such site as may
beselected and offered; and such plans
and specifications OF buildings to be
erected for such purpose at the expense
OF ami rendered by this corporaion.'
"The act of August 8 directs that tho
exposition shall not be open to tho pub.
lie on the first day OF tho week, com.
monty called Sunday, but | do not
think that Congress thereby intended
to prohibit the public from visiting the
park or grounds on Sunday or any other
day OF tho week.
"Tho prohibition extends to the
exposition proper, or rather To works
OF art manufactures, &c, on exhibition.
"All exhibits arc to be concealed
from public view on Sunday but the
law will not bear the construction
in my opinion Of extending tho prohi.
bition to tho public park and grounds.
My opinion therefore lis that tho act OF
congress, August 8, 1892, only requires
that all the buildings containing oxhib.
Its installed for exhibition shall ba
closed to the public ON Sunday, and
that the admission oil tho public to
grounds and buildings not devoted to
exhibition purposes would not DO In
violation OF tho letter or spirit Of tho
law"
The entire session OF the Worlds Fair
commission to-day was spent In wrang.
ling over tho report OF tho Theodore
Thomas investigating committee.
Chnirman Lannon, OF tho music
committee, arose and moved tho adop.
tion OF his report practically dismiss.
ing Mr. Thomas. Mr., ~. Clair, Of West
Virginia, objected to tho vote proceed.
ing, stating that II was wrong, both
morally and legally, for tho commission
TO take such action.
He said that In his opinion tho com.
mission had not tho slightest right to
take tho action outlined In tho commit.
t0B'B report. lIo went on TO do.
scribe that neither the national com.
mission nor tho local directory had any
Jurisdiction In tho matter that tho
power lay entirely In the hands OF Di.
rector General Davis. llo causod
Chairman Lannon TO change color when
ho said that II he were In tho place Of
llarpist schuecknr, whom tho report
charged With dishonesty In writing tho
letter 10 local firm Of musical instru.
ment doalcra asking for 81 900 salary for