128 ANNUAL EEPOET SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



Washington, District of Columbia," and requesting such data relating thereto 

 as I may be able to assemble. 



I would first note that the matter was originally brought to the attention of 

 the Sixty-first Congress, third session, in identical bills submitted to the Senate 

 and House of Representatives, in which, while the erection of such a museum 

 building was provided for, the precise object of the memorial was not stated. 

 The present bill expressly defines the object of the museum, namely, to house 

 such relics relating presumably to the American Indians as may be contributed 

 for the purpose from private sources, one of which, a patriotic organization, is 

 specifically mentioned. While it Is not so stated, it is assumed that the contri- 

 butions are intended to be of the nature of gifts to the Government and there- 

 fore to become its absolute property, though the offer of loan exhibits is to be 

 expected and their acceptance is to be considered a proper museum function. 



The National Museum, constituted, by act of Congress of August 10, 1846, a 

 part of the organization of the Smithsonian Institution, is the depository for 

 all Government collections, in which the subject of the American Indians is 

 one of the most prominent and most extensively represented. These collections 

 have resulted from Government surveys and expeditions and from contributions 

 from many private sources. In the new building recently completed for the 

 National Museum at a cost to the Government of $3,500,000 and containing some 

 10 acres of fioor space, about one-third of the area is devoted to the subject of 

 ethnology and archaeology, illustrative mainly of the North American Indians. 



With reference to the memorial and museum provided for in H. R. 16313, I 

 have, besides the facts recited in the bill, only certain general infoi-mation 

 obtained informally, but I have been given to understand that if the proposed 

 measure is carried out the influences back of it are sufBciently wide and 

 potent to cause to be brought to Washington a large amount of material relat- 

 ing to the Indians of the country, which would otherwise remain scattered and 

 unavailable for study. If this be the case, it would seem that much good 

 might result from the movement. 



There is one matter covered by the bill, however, to which I would invite 

 special attention. It is proposed that the memorial be under the supervision 

 and control of the Secretary of the Interior. I am not informed as to the posi- 

 tion or wishes of the Department of the Interior in the matter, but I respect- 

 fully suggest that, in case the bill be considered favorably, the question of 

 placing the memorial and museum under the custody of the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution be given serious thought, since with an experienced 

 administration already established it would appear that the affairs of the pro- 

 posed museum might be conducted more economically under the Institution 

 than otherwise. The opportunity would also thus be afforded for coordinating 

 the collections with those in the National Museum in such manner as to secure 

 the b.est results for the public. 



The copy of the bill which you forwarded is returned herewith, as requested. 

 Very truly, yours, 



Charles D. Walcott, Secretary. 



The honorable Morris Sheppakd, 



Chairman. Committee on Public BuiUlingt^ and Grounds, 



United Statc.'i House of Reinesentatives, Washington, D. G. 



