Volume 49 · 511
Public Law 74–429
To provide for the observance and celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787 and the settlement of the Northwest Territory.
Approved August 2, 1935
Statutory text
JOINT RESOLUTION
To provide for the observance and celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787 and the settlement of the Northwest Territory.
Whereas the famous ordinance known as the “Ordinance of 1787”,
Anniversary of adoption of Ordinance of 1787 and settlement of Northwest Territory.
Preamble.
adopted by the Federal Congress for the government of the territory now embracing the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota, and then known as the “Northwest Territory”, was so far-reaching in its effects, making such a complete change in the method of governing new communities formed by colonization, that it will always rank as one of the greatest civil documents of all time; and
Whereas the settlement of, and establishment of government in, the Northwest Territory in 1788 marked the beginning of the resistless march of the people of the United States from the eastern seaboard to the Pacific Ocean; and
Whereas the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787 followed by the settlement of the Northwest Territory under the system of government provided by such ordinance vitally shaped and determined the pattern of development of our Nation, its ideals, its Constitution, and its government; and
Whereas there is an indicative analogy between the national problems of one hundred and fifty years ago and those of the present day, making the study of the accomplishments of those early days of value to our people today; and
Whereas the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of these two great focal events in American history occurs in 1937 and 1938: Therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That there is hereby established
Northwest Territory Celebration Commission.
Establishment.
a commission to be. known as the “Northwest Territory Celebration Commission” (herein after referred to as the “Commission”) and to be composed of fourteen commissioners as follows: The President of the United States; two Members of the Senate, one from each of the two major parties, to be appointed by the President of the Senate; two Members of the House of Representatives, one from each of the two major parties, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; the Regent of the State chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution of each of the six States formed from the Northwest Territory, namely, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota; and three individuals from private life, to be appointed by the President of the United States. The commissioners shall serve without compensation and shall select a chairman from among their number.
Sec. 2.
It shall be the duty of the Commission to prepare and carry
Duties.
out a comprehensive plan for the observance and celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the adoption of the Ordinance of 1787 and the settlement of the Northwest Territory. In the
Cooperation with States.
preparation of such plan, the Commission shall cooperate, insofar as is possible, with the several States and particularly with the States of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and shall take such steps as may be necessary in the coordination and correlation of plans prepared by State commissions, by agencies appointed by the governors of the several States, and by representative civic organizations.
Sec. 3.
Without regard to the civil-service laws or the Classification Act of 1923, as amended, the Commission is authorized to appoint and prescribe the duties and fix the compensation (not to exceed $5,000 per annum) of a director and such other employees as are necessary in the execution of its functions.
The Commission may make such expenditures as are necessary to carry out the intent and purposes of this resolution, including all necessary traveling expenses and subsistence expenses incurred by the commissioners.
The Commission shall cease to exist within six months after the date of the expiration of the celebration.
Sec. 4.
There is authorized to be appropriated the sum of $100,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this joint resolution.
Approved, August 2, 1935.