Mr. BANKS.R. Chairman, the amendment I have offered embraces the material part of the sum appropriated in the 1st resolution, and is the point which controlled the judgment of the ComForAffrs, to which this subject was referred, in asking the House to make an appropriation for this purpose. It is proper to say Mr. Chairman, that the Government of the U.S. has never made an appropriation for an object of this character; and until the Exhibition of 1867was proposed, no Government has taken the initiative and assumed the responsibility of expenses incurred in exhibitions of this description. industrial exhibitions in all ages have been opu lar, and not governmental, enterprises. When ever the people have had wrongs to redress or rights to assert, their only means of appealing to public opinion and sympathy, exec t by vioence, have been throng the exhi ition of the fruits of their indust. Thus it has ever been in Poland, Hundry, rance, or England; whereverthe peopfi: sought to influence the GOvernment or stamp their ideas upon the public mind, they have, in exhibiting the fruits of their industry, given evidence of their claims upon the Government. This was true of our own Revolution as of other States. It was not until 1851that industrial exhibitions engaged the universal attention of nations. The Exhi bition of 1851 itself was only established upon the guarantee made by individual citizens who engaged that the Government should not be made responsiblein an encouragementwhich it mightaflord. TheEx ibitious atParis in 1855, at ondon in 1862, and at Hambur in 1863, proceeded on the same idea, that the enterprise was one of individual character, in which governments participated, but for which they were not responsible, and which they did not as sume to control. But at length, as with education, railways, and other popular organizations for the improvement 0t the condition of. the people, industrial expositions now enjoy for the 1st time the reluctant but essential patronage and favor of Governments. The Emperor of France has for the 1st time in the history of the world assumed the responsibility of collectin, classifying, and exhibiting its industry, and invites all nations to present evidences of their prosperity, progress, and power in industrial pursuits. His Government has appropriated 20,000,000 franes for its expenses. e pays 12,000,000 franes from the treasury of the empire, and trusts that the balance of 8, millions may be obtained from admission fees and in other forms of contribution. Belgium has appropriatedo00,000 franes, or $120,000, for the same purpose. Every nation on the European continent will make its appropriations. Individuals, societies, corporations, cities, and Depts of France Wlll also be called upon for voluntary contributions. It is therefore an enterprise in which Governments and not individuals are to act, and if the U.S. desires to be represented in this exhibition of the worlds wealth, it must be through their Government, and not, as here tofore, by individuals. It is for that reason, among others, that the ComForAffrs has asked this appropriation of the House. lnless the Government takes the ini tiative and is represented there as a Government, the people of the U.S. interested in the report of our progress in industry will be without rights or privileges. It is important that we should consider the subject in view of this fact. On the 15th of January last a resolution was approved by the President, which had passed both Houses of Congress, accepting the invitation of the Emperor of France to take part in the Exposition of 1867 5 and it now becomes our privilege and duty to say whether. by fit appropriations for this purpose, we will enable the people we represent to avail themselves of the advantages offered us in common with other nations. There can be no impropriety in saying that if we are to be represented at all we should be well represente, and that makes it necessary we should conform to the plan of the imperial commission. This plan has probably attracted the attention of gentlemen of the House. as it has been printed at length in No. 12 of the Executive Documents. Each Government is to be represented through its industrial agents. A art of the palace constructed for the properexliibition Of the varied products of human industry is assigned to each nation. The structure covers 36 acres of the Champ de Mars. It is elliptical in form. Each of the ten groups in which all branches are classified occupies one of the ten divisions run ningwith the elliptical form of the structure into which it is divided, and each nation is assigned a section of the ground floor, running from the outside to the center; so that a spectator in moving round the building ins iects all articles of anyone class that the world produces; and in moving from the outside to the renter by the transverse passage he will see everything that each nation produces. The industry of the world is thus so classified and arranged that a view of the whole, or of the part of each nation, is easily obtained. The U.S. ranks the 8th in the list of assignments of space. It has 6 times the space heretofore assigned in other exhibitions where it was the 4th in the rank of nations. It is necessary that the portion assigned to us should be furnished for the properexhibition of the fruits of our industry, according to the plan provided for all nations. The expenditure required for this purpose, according to the estimate of the American minister at Paris, for furniture and fixtures, will be $48,000. It is to provide for this sum that the amendment is offered which I have sent to the Chair, and which was omittedin the printed form by accident. I am authorized to say by the committee that it is their unanimous opin iotn that the acceptance of the invitation on the part of the Government makes it incumbent upon us to make this appropriation at least. I believe they were all united in that opinion. The committee hesitated longand carefn ly considered the subject in question in every point of view before the agreed to make the recommendation for teup propriation of $100,000. The part of the bniiiiing assigned for us contains 30,000 square feet. It gives us 20,000 feet for passage Wu s and 10,000 feet net for exhibition. very State in the Union has already made application for a portion of this space. I he State of Illinois has applied for ii. very large share, and altogether the room already demanded will more thancover the space assigned to us.It is probable that a larger part of the building wou d have been assigned had the representative of the Government at Paris or teexecutive officers here been authorized to accept the invitations or specify what space would be required or how much would be used if assigned. But neither there nor here was anyone able to specify what space would he wanted. The opinion was expressed that the American people would desire to be represented and that the l est space allowed would be wanted. It is to tnmish appropriate furniture and fixtures for this space that the appropriation of $48,000 is proposed. I will turn to the next section of the bill in order to explain other expenditures which are embraced in the $100,000 asked for. The next provision is For the compensationof 4 clerks in NewYork and 4 clerks in Paris. whose salaries shall be as follgws: oneat 81.600o.ne at 81, 41la), nd 2 at 813 ct“). These clerks are provided for at NewYork in the resolution which passed Congress all was approved by the President. Thistblll cuts down t ic salaries specified in the JtResolution passed, which was approved from $1, 600 to $1, 400, or $200 for each clerk. So that it makes a reduction in the sum required to that extent. Ifwe are to a pear in aris, iftve are to expend 818,000 for xtnres and furniture, it is of course necessary that there should be some arrangement made by which the articles presented for exhibition should be so classified that we should not duplicate from each State, and from different parts of the same State, the same articles. It is therefore absolutely necessary that there should be some Officers to regulate this. A general agent was appointed at NewYork by the SecyState, whose salary was not fixed. This appointment has been approved, and the appropriation is requeste for himself and the clerk which he was authorized to appoint. The next provision is For the compensationof professionaland scientific commissioners.ton in number. at the rate of SIJXJU each perannum. $10,000 It may seem to some unnecessary that there should be ten scientific commissioners appointed to attend this Exposition; but if it be necessary, assuredly the compensation of $1,000, with the passage out an back, which is provided for in anot or section, will not be deemed extravagant. I think I may say with some degree of confidence that if the committee will look at the character of the Exposition and the plan upon which it is organized they will come to the conclusion that a scientific commission that shall attend for the purpose of examining and reporting upon the results of the industry of the world is absolutely essential to the full realization of its manifold advantages, and will far more than compen satcfor the amount of the expenditure incurred in this section. The plan of the Exposition of 1867 is the grandest classification of the worlds industry that the mind of man has ever conceived. There has never been presented, in the history of the world, such a comprehensive, systematic, and scientific grouping of the various branches of human industry of the world as this plan unfolds. All the pursuits and products of industry are classified inten leading divisions, and subdivided into 95 classes. It is proposed by the commissioner acting for the Government, the American minister at Paris, that one scientific commissioner for each one of these grou 5 shall be appointed by the government. T ie groups are as follows: 1. Works of art. 2. materials and application of labor to art. 8. Furniture and other household articles. 4. Clothing, including cloths and other wearing apparel. 5. Mining, and the rough products of mining. 6 Processes of mechanic arts. 7. Food, fresh and preserved, in its various states. 8. Leading agricultural products and specimens. 9. Natural horticultural products and specimens. 10. Objects especially exhibited for improving the physical and moral condition of the populations of the earth. lhese ten groups embrace all the pursuits of man. all the products ofindtistry, all the habits of life. all the relations of men to each other, to society, and to progressive civilization. It is of vast importauce that this Worlds Exhi bition should be so far studied by our people that we may be able to comprehend the advan tages to be derived from it, and appropriate them to the instruction and benefit of the different sections of the country. We have cminent scientific men in every part of the country who will be capable not only of illustrating our own relation to the industrial products of the earth, but combine in concise, comprehensive methods the results of their investigation, and to impart that information to our people. In the eastern States we have Professor Agas siz, now in South America, whose investigations in natural science will electrify the world and veto the American name in the scientific worl a higher prestige than any nation has enjoyed. Professor Agassiz believes that in a few years the sons of the noble families of every nation in Europe will be sent to the universities of this country to complete their studies, and that in the study of natural scieme we shall have advantages that are not enjoyed by any other nation or any other people on the face of the earth. In the middle States they will be able to present some one who will understand what is necessary for the development of their industry and the promotion of the eat public interests identified with and depen out upon the success of American industry and the valley of the Mississippi a valley that is comparatively unknown to us that is capable of supporting 500 or 1000 million people, which will yield to our industry every product, every manufacture. every form of mineral, will be able to present a man who understands the resources of that vast section of our country, who will represent its power, who will make known the improvements that may he made, and the progress of industry elsew iere. In regard to the mineral and commercial regions on the Pacific coast, let me say that it is of the greatest importance that some man of science and practical skill should be able to present to the people of the Old World the capacities and resources of that part of our country, and also make known to us in return what advantages may be derived from this industrial Exhibition. In this manner we shall be able to represent our material wealth and more than that, it is in our power to Represent the social and political character of the count in such a way asto attract the attention of other nations. The education and the habits of the people; their habits in relation to their industrial pursuits; the food upon which they live; the c othin they wear; the customs of the society in which they move: everything pertainin to American civilization will be Represented us. We can show the log cabin where live one of the earlier Presidents of the Union the humble roof beneath which was born or dwelt the martyr President, whose name is known and beloved by the common people of all nations. We can show the habits of our people in theirindustrial pursuits, and also the advantages which they EDJOY in respect to education and progress, and thus place before the world an enlarged view of the condition and the prospect of American civilization, that has not yet been presented, and that cannot be presented in any other way and I think the expenditure of $100,000 to represent us in these great aspects, the results of which will be reported thpough ten of the best informed, the most scientific and practical men of the country, will he a sum very well bestowed and very profitably expended. The next section relates to an additional structure which possibly may become necessary for our accommodation. I have said that 30,000 s uare feet of area in gross have been assigne to us by the French government, placing us 8th in the list of nations. Beyond all question that will be insuf ficient. Applications have been made already that Wlll fill the entire space. The State of Illinois alone has made application for a space sufficient to take nearlya 1 that assi nod to us. It may be necessary for us to provide an additionalstructure. In the Champ de Mars we can have as much space as we lease, and therefore it is propoeed, if it shall be requisite. that the Government of the U.S shall appropriate $25,000 for the additional structure, upon condition that an equal sum shall be contributed by individuals for the same purpose. It may be found necessary, and it may not. I do not think the appropriation is an unrea sonable one to request or an unreasonable one to ant. lhc next section contains an for contingent expenses in Paris anasqroepwriYaotiorkn, to be expended as the commissioners may direct, $5,000; being for rent, advertising, and incidental expenses already incurred in pursuance of the action of the SecyState confirmed by the action of the 2 Houses of Congress, and approved by the President! The next is a section to which I propose to offer an amendment when it shall be reached. It now provides that the SecyNavy at the request of the SecyState, she be authorized to furnish one or morepublic vessels to transport the industrial products of this country to and from France. The sentiments of the SecyNavy upon this subject, as indicated when the subject was up before, has led me, upon my own res ionsibility, to propose a modification. I sha 1 therefore propose that the POTUS shall be requested to furnish one or morepublic vessels for the transportation of the industrial products of this country to France, but not to return them; because it might be said, as the Exhibition will continue for 6 months, that to kee the vessels there for that time, or to subject them to another voyage out to bring the goods to this country would be perhaps an unreasonable addition to the expense. Rero fore propose that we provide one or morepublic vesse s for the transportation of our conti nental industry to the s mm of France and I take occasion to say that the rere sentations which have been made here when this subject has been up before in regard to the expense of this transportation have been greatly exaggerated. Gent emen have said that the expense would be 2 or 300,000 dollars; and it has been stated to us that the Navy Dept is responsible for such a statement. say, Mr. Chairman, that no such expenditure will be incurred; that neither $100,000 nor $50,000 nor $20,000 nor $10,000 norauy other considerable sum will be incurred. The expense will be no more than that which pertains to the possession of the vessels which the Government now owns. We ask in the 1st place nothing more than store ships sailing vessels which are now at the disposal of the Navy Dept, which are not ened in any public service, and can be assignegaib this duty without the cost of a dollar to the Government. The use of the vessels with the services of the officers and men now employed and paid by the Government will add nothing at all to the expenses of the Dept; and I feel authorized to say on behalf of the committee that we will gratefully accept the meanest exhibition of the national flag which the Navy Dept chooses to make for us in aid of this great national representation of our industry. I am told by Officers of the Navy Dept that these store ships, when they are not wanted for service, are not now even sold; that the prices which they brin are so insignificant that they are broken up or the sake of the may terial. It is only necessary therefore for us to say to the Navy De aitmeut, preserve one, 2, 3 or 4 of these vessels, as may be required; and this will give us all that we need for transporting the exhibitions of our industry to the shores of France. Within the 4 present mouth I believe not less than 20 steamers have been sold in the city of Baltimore at an have e of less than $6,000 each; more than half of them were sold for less than $4,000 each. Even if we should ask the use of steamers, which we do not, certainly the Government of the U.S. has the power to ratify the people of this country at a very sli t cost and with very little trouble. ilhe reason for making this request upon the Navy Dept is based upon a fact alike honorable to the service an the people of England. At the Exhibition of 1851 the SecyNov, without a request of congress, authority of law, or unjustifiaMe expense, gave to the manufacturers, the artisans, the agriculturists, of this country the use of the war frigate StLawrence to carry to South ampton the rodncts of their industry: and the arrival of e StLawrence at Southampton is announced in the English histories of the Exhibition of 1851 as one of the most notable and gratifying incidents of that grand industrial exposition. The officers and men of that frigate were honored with an ovation at Southampton; and wherever they appeared within the realm of England they were recognized as the representatives of the flag of our country, the bearers of the contributions of American industry. Now, sir, if that was the case in 18 31, as suredly the flag of the U.S. will be welcomed in the grander Exhibition of 1807. We ask in this case only that the Government shall lend us the flag of our country to cover the industrial representations of all classes of its people from every part of its territory; lhereis in the resolution a provision which authorized the commissioner at NewYork to charge the exhibitors 1/2 of the current rate of freight to France, the proceeds of which were intended to be applied to the reduction of the general expenses of this exhibition on the part of our Government as provided for by the 1st resolution appropriating the sum of $100,000. It was that provision which led me to say in reply to a question of the Gentfrom Illine rs, [Mr. wnsnsunxn] when the subject was before the House some weeks since, that the expense would not in any event exceed $100,000, and probably would not exceed $50,000. But, upon reflection, I felt that it was not altogether an elevated proceeding for the Government of the U.S., in the use of the vessels owned and aid for by the people, to charge half price reight upon the articles to be exhibited in Paris next year for the purpose of illustrating the progress and greatness of our country, especial y for the benefit of the Government and the people and therefore I proone on my own respon sibility to strike out that section, which stands as the 3rd section in the printed resolution, leaving it as it stands in the 2nd section, modifying it, however, so, far as to call upon the President instead of the SecyNavy to furnish the vessels and I do this, sir, for another reason which did not occur to me in its full strength at the time the committee reported this resolution. The products which we send to Paris will be to a great extent sold in that country. The American minister at Paris has exressed the opinion that 9 10ths of the articles we send to that country will be sold there. They ought all to be sold. I think, therefore, there will be no necessit for speciall providing for their return. I0not think thereis any great generosity in charging them 50%. fort eir transportation to France or these reasons I sha 1 submit the several amendments which I have indicated. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, allow me, and I do not know but I am trespassin too much on their attention Several saunas. Go on; we want to hear you.