Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-26

Attorney General Olney today forwarded to
the secetary Of the Treasury his opinion re-
gardiug the availability Of the congressional
appropriations for the worlds fair. The full
text Of the opinion is as follows:
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE.
WASHINGTON, d. c.. June %, 1898.
The Secretary of the Treasury:
Sir: have your communication of June Is
asking my official opinion upon the question
whether the several appropriations made by
acts OF Congress approved August 8, 1892. in
aid Of the worlds fair at Chicago, including
the appropriations in aid of the government
exhibit. have been rendered unavailable by
what has taken place at Chicago in the matter
OF the opening Of the fair on Sundays.
In my judgment the appropriations referred
to are available now as before the decision Of
the circuit court Of appeals permanently OPEN
Ing the worlds fair On Sunday, with the single
ception that no more money ought to be paid
to the Illinois corporation known as the worlds
Columbian exposition.
fairgrounds for this opinion, briefly states, are
as follows: While the statutes relating to the
subject are confused and obscure, vet regard
being had to their manifest objects and pur-
poses. and to the relations Of the United States
to the fair as exhibitor, donor and medium Of
intercourse with foreign nations and foreign OK
hibitors, the intent of Congress can hardly be
mistaken. Congress meant and explicitly
enacted that the government exhibits should
be closed on Sunday. 1t also meant
that the exposition as a whole should
be closed on Sunday. 1t did not, however,
undertake to pass u law to that effect, but con-
tento1 itself with making certain appropria-
tions conditional, not upon the fact of Sunday
closing, but upon the Illinois corporation
agreeing to the proposition Of Sunday closing.
SO that regulations to that effect might be made
by the government representative. the world 8
Columbian commission. The Illinois corpora
ton did agree to the proposition, the
proper rules were made by the Colum-
bian commission and the condition upon whi ch
the appropriations referred to we're made must
be regarded us fully satisfied. The rights Of the
United States and tho liabilities Of the Illinois
corporation consequent upon the latter's viola
ton OF its agreement are matters for future
consideration and settlement. But such viola
ton, except as it should prevent
the payment Of any more money to
the Illinois corporation, cannot be allowed
to render the appropriations referred to una
vailable. for the most cogent reasons. 1t would
result in great waste, because while only one
third OF the term of the fair has vet elapsed,
ths government has already erected building
at a cost of 100000 and has expended other
large sums Of money in gathering and INSTALL
ing exhibits, in defraying the expenses OF COM
missioners and lady managers and in compen-
saton OF necessary agents and en-
ployes Further. it would almost amount
to bad faith as regards foreign nations and for
eign exhibitors. because not merely the awards
of medals and diplomas. but their preparation
and distribution. have been assured by and be-
long exclusively to the United States, acting
through the Columbian commission. Results
OF this sort cannot possibly have been within
the contemplation Of Congress, which must
therefore be regarded as having conditioned its
appropriations not upon Sunday closing in
fact, but upon an agreement for SUNDAY clos
ing, which it assumed, however rashly, would
not be broken. Veiy respectfully,
RICHARD OLNEY, Attorney General.