KEPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 13 



This ainendmeut was adopted by the Senate, rejected by the House, 

 aud finally lost in conference committee of the two houses, so that the 

 increase of appropriation for exchanges is only $3,000 for the next fis- 

 cal year. 



Preservation of collections. — The appropriation asked for this service 

 was $150,000. The House committee reported $120,000 ; the Senate 

 committee, $125,000, and this latter amount was finally agreed to. 



Furniture and fixtures. — An estimate of $40,000 was submitted, ac- 

 cepted by both committees, and passed by Congress. 



Heating and lighting. — The original estimate "for expense of heating, 

 lighting, and electrical aud telephonic service for the National Museum," 

 was $12,000. This sum was reported by the House Committee on Ap- 

 propriations and adopted by Congress without change. 



Armory building. — For several years this building has been occupied 

 jointly by the National Museum and the U. S. Fish Commission, the lat- 

 ter paying the expenses of its care aud repairs since July 1, 1885. 



The House Committee on Appropriations in reporting the item of 

 $120,000, for "preservation of the collection of the National Museum" 

 inserted the following clause : " And for the care and custody of the so- 

 called Armory building,''^ thus transferring the whole of the building and 

 its maintenance to the Museum. 



The Senate Committee on Appropriations, after hearing a statement 

 from the U. S. Fish Commissioner,* struck out this clause, aud inserted 

 the following under the items for the Fish Commission :t 



Provided, That the building known as the Armory building, Wash- 

 ington, District of Columbia, is hereby transferred to the charge of the 

 United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries for use as a hatching 

 and distributing station and for offices. 



These diverse views were finally reconciled by the conference com- 

 mittees, who reported the following, which became a law : " Under the 

 U. S. Commission of Fish and FitheriesP 



Provided, That the building known as the Armory building, Wash- 

 ington, District of Columbia, shall be occupied as at present, jointly by 

 the United States Commission of Fish and Fisheries and the National 

 Museum. 



North American Etlmology. — The regular estimate for "continuing 

 ethnological researches among the American Indians, under the direc- 

 tion of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, including salaries 

 or compensation of all necessary employes," was $50,000. 



The House Committee on Appropriations, however, only reported 

 $40,000, the sum which has been appropriated annually since 1884. 

 This sum was accepted by both the House and the Senate, and is the 

 amount appropriated. The appropriation is placed in the language of 

 former years " under the direction of the Secretary," but at his request 

 this with other departments is placed under the general caption "under 

 the Smithsonian Institution." 



' genato Report No. 18J4, p. 8(7, ' ' f Act No. 1877, p. 47. 



