into the United States by persons who wish to visit the headquarters district and do not enjoy the right of entry provided in section 11Ante, p. 761. of the agreement shall be construed to amend or suspend in any way the immigration laws of the United States or to commit the United States in any way to effect any amendment or suspension of such laws.
Approved August 4, 1947.
[S. J. Res 156]
[Public Law 358]
Chap. 483.—JOINT RESOLUTION
Fixing the date of meeting of the second regular session of the Eightieth Congress.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the second regular session of the Eightieth Congress shall begin at noon on Tuesday, January 6, 1948.
Approved August 4, 1947.
[H. J. Res 218]
[Public Law 359]
Chap. 484.—JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for the representation of the Government and people of the United States in the observance of the two-hundredth anniversary of the founding of the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.
Reading, Pa.
Two-hundredth anniversary of founding.Whereas two hundred years ago, in 1748, the city of Reading, the
county seat of Berks County of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, was founded by Thomas and Richard Penn, sons of William Penn; and
Whereas it has decided jointly with Berks County, Pennsylvania, to fittingly mark the occasion by an appropriate bicentennial celebration from spring until fall 1948; and
Whereas the first defenders of the Colonies from beyond New England to reinforce General Washington's troops in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at the outbreak of the Revolutionary War were an armed company from Reading and Berks County; and
Whereas, during the period of the Revolution, Reading was a depot of military supplies, manufacturing cannon and munitions for the Continental Army, and was the site of the camp wherein were detained the Hessian prisoners captured at the Battle of Trenton; and
Whereas the first armed troops to enter the city of Washington, in answer to the call of President Lincoln in 1861 for seventy-five thousand volunteers, were from the city of Reading, Pennsylvania, thus again earning and perpetuating for their city the proud title of "First Defenders"; and
Whereas Reading and Berks County through the two centuries of their existence have in addition furnished many outstanding leaders of our Nation and of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas Reading and Berks County have prominently contributed to the industrial life of the United States from the establishment of the first forges and iron foundries in the early eighteenth century to the present time, and today form a great industrial center, among the Nation's leaders in many types of goods and wares; and
Whereas Berks County, of which Reading is the county seat, ranks fourth in Pennsylvania and thirty-eighth in the United States in agricultural production value; and
Whereas it is an important cosmopolitan center of the United States wherein the population represents a fusion and assimilation of the strains and heritage of almost all the nations of Europe in the best tradition of American life and spirit; and
