126 EEPORT OF THE BUILDING COMMISSION. 



with the Secretary, met in the office of the Institution, and after organiz- 

 ing under the title of "National Museum Building Commission," of which 

 General W. T. Sherman was chosen chairman, proceeded to adopt such 

 measures as in their opinion appeared best calculated to realize, with the 

 least possible delay, the intention of Congress. 



The committee at the outset invited General M; C. Meigs, Quarter- 

 master-General U. S. A., to act in the capacity of consulting engi- 

 neer to the commission, and also selected Messrs. Cluss and Schulze, 

 whose plans for the new building- were those approved by Congress, as 

 superintending architects. Mr. Daniel Leech was appointed secretary 

 of the commission. 



To remove as far as possible any doubt as to the sufficiency of the ap- 

 propriation for a building in accordance with the plans approved by Con- 

 gress. Mr. Edward Clark, Architect of the Capitol, and General -Meigs, 

 a tier carefully considering the provisional estimates of the architects, 

 informed the commission that in their opinion the amount was sufficient 

 for the purpose. 



To obtain a clear understanding of the intent of Congress in making the 

 appropriation, as well as to ascertain how far, if desirable, the commission 

 might be authorized to depart from the plans before the Committees of 

 Public Buildings and Grounds when the act was passed, the chairmen 

 of the respective committees (Hon. H. L. Dawes and Hon. Philip Cook) 

 were consulted ; whereupon these gentlemen officially informed the com- 

 mission " that, provided the general design be retained, it was not their 

 intention, nor that of their committees, to confine the Board of Regents 

 of the Smithsonian Institution to the minor details of the aforesaid plans, 

 but to authorize any modifications thai might appear to them desirable 

 in the interest of economy or for the better adaptation of the building to 

 its object." 



On ascertaining that the appropriation could be made immediately 

 available under the clause directing that the account should be audited 

 by the proper officers of the Treasury Department, the Secretary of the 

 Treasury was, on the 27th of March, requested to designate some owe of 

 his force to act as disbursing officer. Accordingly Maj. T. J. Hobbs, 

 disbursing clerk of the department, was selected, and payments were 

 authorized to be made by him on vouchers approved by the Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian Institution as provided for in the following resolution : 



"Resolved, Thai the commission appointed by the Board of Regents of 

 the Smithsonian Institution to superintend the construction of a new 

 fire-proof building for the National Museum hereby authorize Prof. S. 

 i\ Baird, Secretary of the Institution, to act as their agent to approve 

 for payment by Thomas J. Hobbs, all bills for services and supplies from 

 such funds as are placed in I lie hands of the latter by said commisssion 

 for such pur-poses, and the Secretary of the Treasury is hereby respect- 

 fully requested to instruct Thomas J. Hobbs, disbursing agent, to pay any 

 bills when thus certified and found to be otherwise technically correct." 



