File No. 6292/69 A.
The Acting Secretary of
State to Ambassador O’Brien.
Department of State,
Washington, June 20,
1908.
Sir: Referring to the department’s telegram of
May 21, 1908, informing the embassy of the appropriation of $1,500,000
for the participation of this Government in the Tokyo Exposition, I have
now to inform you of the appointment as commissioners general to the
exposition of Messrs. Francis B. Loomis, Frederick J. V. Skiff, and
Francis D. Millet. A copy of the act providing for this Government’s
participation in the exposition is inclosed herewith.
I am, etc.,
[Inclosure.]
[Public—No. 129.]
an act To provide for
participation by the United States in an international exposition to
be held at Tokyo, Japan, in 1912.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States of America in Congress
assembled, That the President be, and he is hereby,
authorized to accept the invitation extended by the Imperial
Japanese Government to the Government of the United States to
participate in the Great National Exposition to be held in Tokyo,
Japan, from April first to October thirty-first, nineteen hundred
and twelve. In accepting said invitation it is hereby declared to be
the purpose of the Government of the United States to participate in
said Japanese National Exposition by erecting suitable buildings and
making an appropriate exhibit of arts, industries, manufactures, and
products, of the soil and mines and as far as practicable of the
functions of the General Government of the United States and an
exhibit of such other articles as the President of the United States
may direct: Provided, That such
participation, buildings, exhibits, and all expenses connected
therewith, including salaries, clerical, and other services and
transportation of persons and exhibits shall not exceed one million
five hundred thousand dollars.
- Sec. 2. That the President be, and
he is hereby, authorized, by and with the advice and consent of
the Senate, to appoint three commissioners general who shall,
under the direction of the Secretary of State, take such steps
as are necessary to ascertain the general plan and scope of the
said National Exposition, the character, size, and cost of the
buildings to be erected by the United States, and the extent and
character of the exhibit authorized hereunder that would best
serve the interests of the United States and its citizens, and
would be best adapted to illustrate the growth and development
of the country and the character of our people. That thereafter,
and as soon as practicable, said commissioners shall report
fully to the President and to Congress the result of such
investigation together with their recommendations and the
estimated cost of said participation in said exposition within
the foregoing authorization; and it shall also be the duty of
the commissioners general to report to the President for
transmission to Congress at the beginning of each regular
session a detailed statement of all expenditures incurred
hereunder. That one of said commissioners general shall receive
as compensation for his services the sum
[Page 517]
of eight thousand dollars per annum; that
the other two commissioners general shall receive as
compensation for their services from and after January first,
nineteen hundred and nine, two thousand dollars per annum for
the first year and five thousand dollars per annum thereafter;
together with the actual traveling expenses of all of said
commissioners general, including sleeping-car service and a per
diem in lieu of subsistence of five dollars when actually
traveling in the discharge of their duties as said commissioners
general. That the President shall also appoint a secretary at a
compensation of five thousand dollars per annum, together with
his actual traveling expenses, including sleeping-car service
and a per diem in lieu of subsistence of five dollars when
actually traveling in the discharge of his duties as such
secretary, who shall act as disbursing agent and who shall
perform such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time
by the commissioners general, and who shall render his accounts
at least quarterly to the proper accounting officers of the
Treasury of the United States, and shall give bond in such sum
as the Secretary of the Treasury may require. And the said
commissioners general, subject to the approval of the Secretary
of State, shall appoint from time to time such clerical and
other assistants as may be necessary and as may hereafter be
appropriated for in connection with the preparation of the plan
and other necessary services as may be required in connection
with the participation herein authorized.
- Sec. 3. That upon the request of the
Secretary of State the Secreary of War is hereby authorized to
furnish free transportation on Government transports from San
Francisco to Japan and return of all Government exhibits and for
such officials or employees connected with the commission or in
charge of any or all Government exhibits.
- Sec. 4. That the sum of fifty
thousand dollars is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purpose of paying
the salaries and all other expenses herein authorized and
incurred in ascertaining the general plan of said National
Exposition and the preparation and report to Congress of the
plan and extent of our proposed participation therein and the
estimate of the amount necessary to meet the expense thereof
during the fiscal year nineteen hundred and ten, to be
immediately available.
