242 REPORT OF NATIONAL MUSEUM, 1903. 



The bill which passed the Senate as an item in the sundry civil 1)111, 

 but failed of action in the House, in this the second session of the 

 Fort^'-fourth Congress was as follows: 



For a lireproof building for the use of the National Museum, 300 feet square, to he 

 erected under the direction and supervision of the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, in accordance with the plan of Maj. Gen. M. C. Meigs, now on tile with 

 the Joint Committee of PuT)lic Buildings and Grounds, on the southwest corner of 

 the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, the sum of $250,000 is hereliy appro- 

 priated out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated; said building 

 to be placed west of the Smithsonian Institution, leaving a roadway -between it and 

 the latter of not less than 30 feet, with its north front on a line ])arallel with the 

 north face of the buildings of the Agricultural Department and of the Smithsonian 

 Institution; and all expenditures for the pui-poses herein mentioned, not including 

 anything for architectural plans, shall be audited by the proper officers of the 

 Treasury Department. 



The necessity for a new Museum building was brought to the atten- 

 tion of the President of the United States through the following 

 communication, dated Octobers, 1877: 



Sir: I have the honor, in behalf of the Boai'd of Regents of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, to invite your attention to the propriety of recommending to Congress the 

 memorial of the Board of Regents (a copy of which is herewith inclosed), asking 

 that an appropriation be made for a building to accommodate the valuable collec- 

 tions presented to the United States through this Institution at the late international 

 exhibition in Philadelphia. 



As explanatory of this request it may be proper to state that the Smithsonian 

 Institution was authorized by Congress to receive and take charge of these collections, 

 and that they were presented with the expectation on the part of the donors that 

 suitable provision would Ije made for their disi)lay at the seat of government. They 

 consist of full series of articles illustrative of the economic jwoducts, the natural his- 

 tory, and in many cases the manners, customs, and arts of the foreign countries 

 represented at the Centennial Exhibition, and are of great importance to the 

 advancement of science, education, and manufacture. Besides these are the objects 

 collected by the Smithsonian Institution and U. S. Fish Commission of the animal, 

 mineral, and fishery resources of the United States, also of public interest. 



These articles now constitute, by law, a part of the National Museum, which has 

 been placed by Congress in charge of the Smithsonian Institution. This Museum 

 has hitherto been accommodated in the building erected for the purpose at the 

 expense of the Smithson fund, in accordance with the direction of Congress. This 

 edifice, however, is filled to overflowing, while there are elsewhere, in storage, from 

 the donations previously mentioned, collections of greater magnitude than those in 

 the Smithsonian building. 



It is evident that an appropriation for an additional building can not justly he 

 taken from the Smithson fund, and therefore the Board of Regents have made the 

 application mentioned in their memorial. This memorial was presented to Congress 

 at its last session, when the appropriation asked for was granted by the Senate unani- 

 mously, and when, in all i)r()l)al)ility, it would have been granted l)y the House 

 could the proposition have been brought to the consideration of that body. 

 I am, with sentiments of high esteem, your obedient ser\ant, 



JosKi'ii IIenky, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



Hon. RuTHEKFOKu B. Hayes. 



