306 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 
and eighty, fifty thousand dollars: Provided, That the construction of no building 
shall be commenced except an observatory proper, with necessary offices for 
observers and computers.” 1°4 
The new observatory was completed in 1893. 
While the committee recognized the importance of a suit- 
able site, and adequate equipment and buildings, it was far more 
concerned regarding the organization of the observatory. The 
main body of its report relates to this subject. It argued 
that while astronomers who were naval officers, and especially 
James M. Gilliss and Charles H. Davis (both members of the 
Academy) had contributed to the reputation of the Observatory, 
as an important scientific establishment, that reputation was 
derived mainly from the labors of its civilian professors, Walker, 
Ferguson, Hall, Holden, Newcomb and others. It, therefore, 
recommended that the Observatory be reorganized under a 
civilian administration, and that its name be changed from 
United States Naval Observatory to the National Observatory 
of the United States, which latter designation it bore at a certain 
early period in its history.” 
COMMITTEE ON THE TARIFF CLASSIFICATION 
OF WOOLS. 1885 
In the various tariff laws enacted by Congress in the course 
of the last forty years, different rates of duties are imposed for 
wool in the natural condition of the fleece, and for wool that has 
been washed or scoured. Washing is defined as cleansing the 
fleece while still on the sheep’s back by washing it in cold water, 
while scouring is defined as a more effective cleansing of the 
wool by means of hot water, or alkalies and other chemicals. 
The rate for washed wool is twice, and that for scoured wool 
three times the rate for wool in the natural condition. For 
some time the appraisers appear to have overlooked the distinc- 
tion and much wool was admitted at a less rate than it should 
*4 Stat. at Large, vol. 24, p. 156, 49th Congress, rst Session, chap. 781, 1886. 
*° The report of the committee constitutes Sen. Exec. Doc., no. 67, 49th Congr., rst Sess. 
Ordered printed Feb. 10, 1886. See also Sen. Exec. Doc. no. 78, 48th Congr. 2d Sess. 1885. 
