exhaustive hearing and the filing of briefs by the parties to the suit, the court issued an order that the public should be excluded from such hearings and that the same should be private. This seems to have been the first time that the question was ever raised, and if the decision of this court stands, and no legislation is had thereon by Congress, there is no doubt but what the Government in all equity suits under this act will be met at the threshold with an application on the part of the defendant for the taking of the evidence in private. It must be remembered that in all these cases the Government of the United States is a party. In reality the people of the country are plaintiffs in the suit, and the taking of the evidence in secret, either by the court or any master representing the court, is not only contrary to the fundamental idea of our jurisprudence, but it would often result in a denial of justice. Everything pertaining to our courts should have the greatest publicity. Secret hearings would surround our courts with a mystery of doubt and eventually bring them into disrepute. If our courts are to retain the confidence and respect of the country generally, their official conduct must be entirely free from any suspicion of star-chamber proceedings.

PANAMA-PACIFIC INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION.

JANUARY 21, 1913.-Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union and ordered to be printed.

Mr. CULLOP, from the Committee on Industrial Arts and Expositions, submitted the following

REPORT.

[To accompany H. R. 27876.]

The Committee on Industrial Arts and Expositions, to whom was referred the bill (H. R. 27876) to provide for the participation of the United States in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, having considered the same, report thereon with a recommendation that it do pass with the following amendments:

Page 4, in line 17, after the word "board," insert a colon and the words:

"Provided, That any one or all of the buildings hereby authorized to be erected shall be of a permanent and suitable character for the use of the Government on said military reservation.

Page 5, in line 5, after the word "States," insert a comma and the words "within thirty days after the passage of this act."

Page 5, in line 10, strike out the words ". as soon as convenient" and insert in lieu thereof the words "within thirty days."

Page 6, in lines 1 and 2, strike out the words "or with foreign exhibitors regarding space, location, and the awarding of premiums; and" and insert in lieu thereof the words "the commissioners of foreign Governments and said Panama-Pacific International Exposition Company whenever a formal request for such action is made. by any foreign commissioner; and said commission."

Page 7, in line 2, after the word "premiums," insert the words "salaries and expenses herein provided for,”.

Amend the title so as to read: "An act to provide for the participation of the United States in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition, and for other purposes."

The President, in his message communicated to Congress on December 19, 1912, made the following reference to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition:

In conformity with a joint resolution of Congress, an Executive proclamation was issued last February, inviting the nations of the world to participate in the PanamaPacific International Exposition to be held at San Francisco to celebrate the con

struction of the Panama Canal. A sympathetic response was immediately forthcoming, and several nations have already selected the sites for their buildings. In furtherance of my invitation, a special commission visited European countries during the past summer and received assurances of hearty cooperation in the task of bringing together a universal industrial, military, and naval display on an unprecedented scale. It is evident that the exposition will be an accurate mirror of the world's activities as they appear 400 years after the date of the discovery of the Pacific Ocean.

It is the duty of the United States to make the nations welcome at San Francisco and to facilitate such acquaintance between them and ourselves as will promote the expansion of commerce and familiarize the world with the new trade route through the Panama Canal. The action of the State governments and individuals assures a comprehensive exhibit of the resources of this country and of the progress of the people. This participation by States and individuals should be supplemented by an adequate showing of the varied and unique activities of the National Government. The United States can not with good grace invite foreign Governments to erect buildings and make expensive exhibits while itself refusing to participate. Nor would it be wise to forego the opportunity to join with other nations in the inspiring interchange of ideas tending to promote intercourse, friendship, and commerce. It is the duty of the Government to foster and build up commerce through the canal, just as it was the duty of the Government to construct it.

I earnestly recommend the appropriation at this session of such a sum as will enable the United States to construct a suitable building, install a governmental exhibit, and otherwise participate in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in a manner commensurate with the dignity of a nation whose guests are to be the peoples of the world. I recommend also such legislation as will facilitate the entry of material intended for exhibition and protect foreign exhibitors against infringement of patents and the unauthorized copying of patterns and designs. All aliens sent to San Francisco to construct and care for foreign buildings and exhibits should be admitted without restraint or embarrassment.

The exposition is to be a celebration of a national achievement of world-wide importance. The cost of the celebration, however, is not borne by the United States, but by the people of California. Of all the international expositions held in the United States the PanamaPacific International Exposition is the only one that has not asked for aid from the Government, and the Panama-Pacific International Exposition Co. has pledged itself not to ask for such aid. The exposition is amply financed, over $20,000,000 having been provided by California and its people.

In response to the President's invitation 25 nations have already officially notified the Department of State of their intention to particípate in the Panama-Pacific International Exposition. These countries are:

In September last, after the expiration of the period of mourning for the late Emperor of Japan, the commissioners from Japan appointed for that purpose selected the site of the Japanese buildings and gardens at San Francisco, within the grounds of the Presidio Military Reservation set apart for foreign exhibitions. The commissioners announced that the Japanese Government would expend more than $1,000,000, and that at the close of the exposition the buildings and gardens would be presented to the Government and people of the United States as a testimonial of good will.

The Governments of China, Canada, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Brazil, and Sweden have sent commissioners to San Francisco to select sites for their buildings. Some of these sites have been chosen, and the work of preparing for construction and installation is in active progress. The French commissioners have asked for a reservation of 8 acres, and will arrive soon to confirm the selection. The Department of State is in receipt of communications from our representatives abroad, indicating that many other countries are preparing to accept the invitation to participate and to erect buildings. Meanwhile, great interest is manifested in the exposition by the States of this Union. Thirty-five States have officially decided to make exhibits of their resources and activities, and the legislatures of the remaining States are now considering the subject. Many of the States have already selected the sites of their buildings and commissioners are at work arranging for construction.

Individual applications for exhibit space have been received from all parts of the world. The amount of space already applied for exceeds the allotment. Therefore, the process of selection and elimination has already begun, with the object of making the exposition a compact and complete epitome of the world's activity rather than a mere huge aggregation of exhibits.

The size and character of foreign government participation, as well as the extent of participation by the American States, will be affected largely by the attitude of this Government toward the exposition. It can not be expected that foreign nations will enter enthusiastically into this universal undertaking if its sponsor-the United States-is half-hearted or niggardly. Congress appropriated $1,579,000 for a Government exhibit at St. Louis, in addition to an outright gift of $5,000,000 and a loan amounting to $4,600,000, which loan was repaid. The pending bill provides for an appropriation of $2,000,000 for a Government exhibit at San Francisco, with a provision that the building or buildings shall be of a permanent character, suitable for the use of the military authorities at the Presidio Military Reservation, and with the further provision that the United States shall not be bound to extend any pecuniary aid or assistance to the PanamaPacific International Exposition. This appropriation is regarded by your committee as moderate and suitable, and in accordance with the dignity of the United States as a host of the nations of the world. The bill provides that the Government exhibit shall be in charge of a board of Government employees, appointed by the heads of the executive departments, the independent commissions and bureaus, the Smithsonian Institution, etc. The exhibit as a whole will illustrate the functions and activities of the National Government, showing the nature and growth of our institutions and their adaptation to the wants of the people, and the progress of the Nation in the arts of peace and war. Comparatively few citizens of the United States have an opportunity to visit the National Capital, and still fewer are able to gain a comprehensive idea of the manifold operations of their Government. By means of the exhibit at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition the people of the country will be enabled to obtain accurate information regarding the methods of government, the expenditure of the public funds, and the development of national institutions. In no other way could this desirable object be accomplished to such good advantage.

The bill provides that a commission shall be appointed by the President to act as a board of arbitration in case of differences arising between the exposition authorities and foreign governments of exhibitors, and to require suitable provision to be made for the entertainment of the representatives of foreign nations who may visit the exposition in response to the invitation heretofore extended by the President by authority of Congress. The salaries and expenses of this commission are to be paid by the exposition company, and no expense whatever in this connection is to be borne by the National Government.

Your committee beg leave to commend the public spirit and generosity of the people of California in assuming the entire burden of financing and managing this universal exposition, and to emphasize the fact that the participation by the Government to the extent provided for in this bill is barely more than a formal recognition of its duty in the premises.