_Provided, further:_ That sections eight and twelve of an act 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 Saint Louis, in the State of Missouri," approved March third, nineteen hundred and one, be, and the same are hereby, amended so as to read as follows: SEC. 8. That said Commission shall provide for the dedication of the buildings of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in said city of Saint Louis not later than the thirtieth day of April, nineteen hundred and three, 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 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;