Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 September 1896 — CONGRESS IS SLOW TO ACT. [ARTICLE]

CONGRESS IS SLOW TO ACT.

No Arrangements for Representation at Paris Exposition. The French Government is rapidly perfecting the details for the international exposition to be held in Paris in 1900, commemorating the birth of the century and in this connection has asked the State Department for the name of the Commissioner General who will represent the United States, and for such other Information available as to the participation of this country. To this Acting Secretary Rockhill has replied that the Commissioner General has not been named, as the American Congress took no steps at its recent session to provide for American representation at the exposition. He expressed the belief, however, that the approaching session of Congress will bring about an acceptance of the invitation of the French republic. President Cleveland called the attention of Congress to the invitation in his annual message last December, and expressed the' most earnest hope that steps would be taken for an adequate representation by the United States. But Congress acts 'slowly on these affairs, and no measure was considered, the idea being that there was plenty of time before 1900; It appears, however, that Great Britain. Germany and*other leading powers have been quick to accept, and the French Government is allotting space to'these countries. American exhibitors are beginning to make inquiry as’to where.their goods will go, but no answer cap be given to them. The prospect is that the best space will be taken before the United Spates accept# the invitation and makes application for space. This was the case' affthe last exposition, when American exhibitors wera at much disadvantage in point of location.