and administrative faculty of the Government in time of peace, and its resources as a war power, tending to demonstrate the nature of our institutions and their adaptions to the wants of the people; and to secure a complete and harmonious arrangement of such Government exhibit a board shall be created, to be charged with the selection, preparation, arrangement, safe keeping, and exhibition of such articles and materials as the heads of the several Departments and the directors of the Smithsonian Institution and National Museum may respectively decide shall be embraced in said Government exhibit. The President Board to control exhibit. may also designate additional articles for exhibition. Such board shall Composition. be composed of one person to be named by the head of each Executive Department and Museum and by the President of the United States. The President shall name the chairman of said board, and the board itself shall select such other officers as it may deem necessary. ernment exhibit. SEC. 4. That the Secretary of the Treasury shall cause a suitable Building for Govbuilding or buildings to be erected on the site selected for the transmississippi and international exposition for the Government exhibits, and he is hereby authorized and directed to contract therefor, in the same manner and under the same regulations as for other public buildings of the United States; but the contract for said building or buildings shall not exceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars. The Secretary Disposal at close of of the Treasury is authorized and required to dispose of such building or buildings, or the material composing the same, at the close of the exposition, giving preference to the city of Omaha, or to the said Transmississippi and International Exposition Association, to purchase the same at an appraised value to be ascertained in such manner as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury. exposition. Liability of United States limited. SEC. 5. The United States shall not be liable on account of said exposition for any expense incident to, or growing out of same, except for the construction of the building or buildings hereinbefore provided for, and for the purpose of paying the expense of transportation, care and custody of exhibits by the Government, and the maintenance of the said building or buildings, and the safe return of articles belonging to the said Government exhibit, and other contingent expenses to be approved by the Secretary of the Treasury upon itemized accounts and vouchers, and the total cost of said building or buildings shall not exceed the sum of fifty thousand dollars; nor shall the expenses of Limit of said Government exhibit for each and every purpose connected therewith, including the transportation of same to Omaha and from Omaha to Washington, exceed the sum of one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, amounting in all to not exceeding the sum of two hundred thousand dollars: Provided, That no liability against the Government shall be incurred, and no expenditure of money under this Act shall be before made, until the officers of said exposition shall have furnished the Secretary of the Treasury proofs to his satisfaction that there has been obtained by said exposition corporation subscriptions of stock in good faith, contributions, donations, or appropriations from all sources for the purposes of said exposition a sum aggregating not less than two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. expense. Froviso. Amount to be raised expenditures can be made. Allowance to commissioners. SEC. 6. That the commission appointed under this Act shall not be entitled to any compensation for their services out of the Treasury of the United States, except their actual expenses for transportation and a reasonable sum to be fixed by the Secretary of the Treasury for subsistence for each day they are necessarily absent from home on the business of said commission. The officers of said commission shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by said commission, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Treasury, which shall be paid out of the sums appropriated by Congress in aid of such exposition. SEC. 7. That medals, with appropriate devices, emblems, and inscrip- pared at mint. tions commemorative of said transmississippi and international exposition and of the awards to be made to the exhibitors thereat, shall be prepared at some mint of the United States, for the board of directors thereof, subject to the provisions of the fifty-second section of the Vol. 17, p. 432. Medals to be pre Nonliability for acts of Exposition Asso ciation. Restriction on com mission. coinage Act of eighteen hundred and ninety-three, upon the payment of a sum not less than the cost thereof; and all the provisions, whether penal or otherwise, of said coinage Act against the counterfeiting or imitating of coins of the United States, shall apply to the medals struck and issued under this Act. SEC. 8. That the United States shall not in any manner, nor under any circumstances, be liable for any of the acts, doings, proceedings, or representations of said Transmississippi and International Exposition Association, its officers, agents, servants, or employees, or any of them, or for service, salaries, labor, or wages of said officers, agents, serv ants, or employees, or any of them, or for any subscriptions to the capital stock, or for any certificates of stock, bonds, mortgages, or obligation of any kind issued by said corporation, or for any debts, liabilities, or expenses of any kind whatever attending such corporation or accruing by reason of the same. That nothing in this Act shall be so construed as to create any liability of the United States, direct or indirect, for any debt or obligation incurred, nor for any claim for aid or pecuniary assistance from Congress or the Treasury of the United States in support or liquidation of any debts or obligations created by said commission in excess of appropriations made by Congress therefor. Approved, June 10, 1896. June 10, 1896. Florida. Customs districts. R. S., sec. 2562, p. 506. Subports to be des ignated. Repeal. CHAP. 403.-An Act To provide for subports of entry and delivery in the State of Florida. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That such places in the collection districts in the State of Florida as the Secretary of the Treasury may from time to time designate shall be subports of entry and delivery, and customs officers shall be stationed at such subports, with authority to enter and clear vessels, receive duties, fees, and other moneys, and perform such other services and receive such compensation as, in the judg ment of the Secretary of the Treasury, the exigencies of commerce may require. SEC. 2. That all acts or parts of acts in conflict with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed. Approved, June 10, 1896. June 10, 1896. Los Angeles customs district. port of entry. CHAP. 404.-An Act To make the city of Santa Barbara, county of Santa Barbara, State of California, a subport of entry. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the city of Santa Barbara, State of California, be, and the same is hereby, made a subport of entry in the district of Los Ángeles, with the privileges of section seven of an Act entitled "An Act to amend the statutes in relation to immediate Immediate transpor transportation of dutiable goods, and for other purposes," approved June tenth, eighteen hundred and eighty. R. S., sec. 2582, p. 511; Vol. 27, p. 12. tation. Vol. 21. p. 174. Approved, June 10, 1896. CHAP. 405.-An Act To authorize the Secretary of War to improve and maintain the public roads within the limits of the national park at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, Thai the Secretary of War is hereby authorized in his discretion to improve and maintain the public roads within the limits of the national park at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, over which jurisdiction has been or may hereafter be ceded to the United States: Provided, That nothing contained in this Act shall be deemed and held to prejudice the rights acquired by any State or by any military Rights not affected. organization to the ground on which its monuments or markers are placed nor the right of way to the same. Approved, June 10, 1896. CHAP. 406.—An Act To establish a life-saving station on the coast of New Hampshire or Massachusetts between the Hampton and the Merrimac rivers. June 10, 1896. Life-saving station Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the to be established on Treasury be, and is hereby, authorized to establish a life-saving station N. H. or Mass. coast. on the coast of New Hampshire or Massachusetts at such point between the Hampton and Merrimac rivers, as the General Superintendent of the Life-Saving Service may recommend. Approved, June 10, 1896. CHAP. 407.—An Act Authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Navy to donate condemned cannon and condemned cannon balls to certain posts of the Grand Army of the Republic. June 10, 1896. Condemned cannon. Donated Grand Army posts. Leavenworth and McLouth, Kants. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to donate one condemned cannon and condemned cannon balls for four pyramids to Shaw Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Leavenworth, Kansas, and also one condemned cannon and condemned cannon balls for four pyramids to McLouth Post, Numbered Two hundred and seventy-nine, Grand Army of the Republic, at McLouth, Kansas, for soldiers' monuments to be erected at said cities: Provided, That, in the judgment of the Secretary of the Navy, such articles can be spared without detriment to the public interest: And provided further, That the United States shall not be Expense. subjected to any expense on account of such donation. Received by the President, May 29, 1896. [NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] Provisos. Condition. CHAP. 408.-An Act Authorizing and directing the Secretary of the Navy to furnish to George F. Fuller Post, Grand Army of the Republic, of Manistique, Michigan, a condemned cannon. June 10, 1896. Condemned cannon. Donated Grand Army post, Manis Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretary of the Navy be, and he is hereby, authorized and directed to furnish to George tique, Mich. F. Fuller Post, Numbered Two hundred and fifty-seven, department of Michigan, Grand Army of the Republic, of Manistique, Michigan, a condemned cannon: Provided, That in the judgment of the Secretary of the Navy such article can be spared without detriment to the public interests: And provided further, That the United States shall not be subjected to any expense on account of such donation. Received by the President, May 29, 1896. [NOTE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE.-The foregoing act having been presented to the President of the United States for his approval, and not having been returned by him to the house of Congress in which it originated within the time prescribed by the Constitution of the United States, has become a law without his approval.] Provisos. Expense. June 10, 1896. El Paso and North pany granted right of way Fort Bliss Reser eastern Railroad Com vation, Texas. Completion. CHAP. 409.—An Act To grant a right of way through the new Fort Bliss Military Reservation to the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad Company. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That there is hereby granted to the El Paso and Northeastern Railroad Company a right of way one hundred feet wide, on such route as the Secretary of War may desig nate, through the new Fort Bliss Military Reservation, Texas. If said railroad shall not be built across said reservation within three years next after the passage of this Act, this grant shall absolutely cease and determine. Approved, June 10, 1896. June 11, 1896. Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company may bridge Warrior River, Alabama. Location. Litigation. Railroad bridge. Drawbridge. Provisos. Spans. Reductions. Increase. Opening draw. Construction. CHAP. 414.—An Act To authorize the construction of a bridge across the Warrior River by the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the Mobile and Ohio Railroad Company, a corporation created and existing under the laws of Alabama, its successors and assigns, be, and is hereby, authorized to construct and maintain a bridge across the Warrior River at a place suitable to commerce and not interfering with navigation, at a point in Tuscaloosa County, in the State of Alabama, and to lay on or over said bridge a track or tracks for the more perfect connection of any railroad or railroads that are or shall be constructed to said river, on either or both sides thereof at or opposite said point, under the limitations and conditions hereinafter provided. That said bridge shall not interfere with the free navigation of said river, and in case of any litigation arising from any obstruction or alleged obstruction to the free navigation of said river, by reason of the construction of said bridge, the cause may be tried before the circuit court of the United States in and for any district in whose jurisdiction any portion of said obstruction or bridge may be. Said bridge shall be constructed to provide for the passage of railroad trains. SEC. 2. That said bridge shall be provided with one or more draw openings, each having not less than one hundred feet clear channel way at low water, and in addition to said draw openings one or more fixed channel spans, each having not less than one hundred feet clear channel way; and every part of the superstructure of said bridge shall give a clear headroom of not less than ten feet above extreme known highwater mark: Provided, That all spans shall be so located as to afford the greatest possible accommodation to the river traffic and a draw opening shall, if practicable, be located next or near shore: Provided also, That if the physical characteristics of the locality so require, and the interest of navigation be not injured thereby, the lengths of the fixed spans or the number of draw openings may be reduced: Provided also, That for any two adjacent draw openings of one hundred feet each one draw opening of two hundred feet or more may be substituted if, in the opinion of the Secretary of War, the interest of navigation be not injured thereby. SEC. 3. That all draw spans authorized by this Act shall be operated by steam or other reliable power and shall be opened promptly upon reasonable signal for the passage of boats, except when trains are passing over said span or spans; but in no case shall unnecessary delay occur in opening said draw after the passage of trains; and also that in case the opening of a draw is delayed by reason of the passing of a train after the signal has been given from a boat ready to pass through the draw shall be opened for the passage of such boat before another train is allowed to pass over the said span or spans; nor shall there be any unnecessary delay in the passage of trains over the bridge. SEC. 4. That all piers shall be built as near as may be parallel with the current of the river at that stage of water which is most important for navigation, and the bridge itself shall be built as nearly as may be at right angles thereto; and that riprapping or other protection for imperfect foundations which will lessen the required waterway shall not be permitted; and also that piers which will produce cross currents or bars dangerous to navigation shall not be constructed; and if after construction any piers or accessory works are found to produce the above-mentioned effects, or if any riprapping or other protection prohibited by this section is found to exist, the nuisance shall be abated or corrected under the direction of the Secretary of War, at the expense of the company or persons owning, controlling, or operating said bridge. SEC. 5. That the approaches to said bridge shall be so designed and constructed as not to interfere with the free discharge of said river in seasons of flood; and any encroachment on the high-water cross section by piers, solid embankments, or otherwise which will result in unduly accelerating the high-water current at the site of the bridge will not be allowed. SEC. 6. That any corporation, company, or persons owning, controlling, or operating the bridge built under the authority of this Act shall build and maintain at all times, as accessory works to such bridge, such booms, piers, dikes, guard fences, and similar devices as may be necessary to insure at all times a permanent channel for a sufficient distance above and below the bridge site, and for the guiding of rafts, steamboats, and other water craft safely under or through said bridge; and if at any time after the construction of the bridge and its accessory works the approaches to draw openings, channel spans, or raft passages in said bridge are found to be dangerous or difficult of access by river traffic the Secretary of War may, upon the recommendation of the Chief of Engineers, United States Army, order the corporation, company, or persons owning, controlling, or operating said bridge to construct, under his directions, and to maintain such additional sheer booms, dikes, and other devices as will obviate the difficulty mentioned, which additional sheer booms, dikes, and other devices shall be built and maintained at their own expense by said company or persons; and that said company or persons shall maintain, at their own expense, from sunset to sunrise throughout the season of navigation, such lights and other signals on said bridge as may be required by the Light-House Board for the security of navigation. SEC. 7. That the bridge authorized to be constructed by this Act shall be located and built under and subject to such regulations for the security of navigation on said river as the Secretary of War shall prescribe; and to secure that object said corporation shall submit for his examination a design and drawings of the bridge, piers, approaches, and accessory works, and a map of the location giving, for a space of at least three miles above and one mile below the proposed location, the topography of the banks of said river and the shore lines at high and low water. This map shall be accompanied by others drawn on the scale of one inch to two hundred feet, giving, for a space of one-half of a mile above the line of the proposed bridge and one-quarter of a mile below, an accurate representation of the bottom of the river, by contour lines five feet apart, determined by accurate soundings, and also showing over the whole width of this part of the river the force and direction of the currents at low water, at high water, and at least one intermediate stage by triangulated observations on suitable floats. The maps shall also show the location of other bridges in the vicinity and shall give such information as the Secretary of War may require for a full and satisfactory understanding of the subject; and the construction of the proposed bridge shall not be commenced until the location and plans thereof are approved by the Secretary of War. SEC. 8. That any bridge constructed under the authority of this Act shall be built under the general supervision of the Secretary of War, and no changes or alterations in plans shall be made during the construction of said bridge or after its completion unless said changes or alterations conform to the provisions of this Act and are authorized by 54-1-26 Approaches. Aids to navigation. Lights, etc. Secretary of War to approve plans, etc. Supervision. Changes. |