opened to visitors at such
time as may be designated by said company, subject to the
approval of said Commission, not later than the first day of
May, nineteen hundred and four, and shall be closed at such time
as the National Commission may determine, subject to the
approval of said company, but not later than the first day of
December thereafter.

SEC. 12. That the National Commission hereby authorized shall
cease to exist on the first day of July, nineteen hundred and
five.

On July 1, 1902 the following proclamation, announcing the postponement
of the exposition, was issued by the President of the United States:

Whereas the President on August 20, 1901, issued his
proclamation stating that he has been advised by the Louisiana
Purchase Exposition Commission, pursuant to the provisions of
section 9 of the act of Congress approved March 3, 1901,
entitled "An act to provide for celebrating the one hundredth
anniversary of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory by the
United States by holding an international exhibition of arts,
industries, manufactures, and the products of the soil, mine,
forest, and sea in the city of St. Louis, in the State of
Missouri," that provision had been made for grounds and
buildings for the uses specified in the said mentioned act of
Congress;

Whereas it was declared and proclaimed by the President in his
aforesaid proclamation that such international exhibition would
be opened in the city of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri,
not later than the 1st day of May, 1903, and be closed not later
than the 1st day of December thereafter;

And whereas section 8 of the act of Congress approved June 28,
1902, entitled "An act making appropriations for sundry civil
expenses of the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1903, and for other purposes," fixes a subsequent date for the
holding of the said international exhibition, and specifically
states that said Commission shall provide for the dedication of
the buildings of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in said city
of St. Louis not later than the 30th day of April, 1903, with
appropriate ceremonies, and thereafter said exposition shall be
opened to visitors at such time as may be designated by said
company, subject to the approval of said Commission, not later
than the 1st day of