106 EEPORT ON EXCHANGES. 



hundred to three hundred, as had already been done in some instances 

 by the Senate. These might be distributed by the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution at moderate cost to the Government, and direct returns of ex- 

 changes obtained for the Library of Congress, if desired. 



August 18, 185G, the Secretary of State was authorized to purchase 

 one hundred copies each of Audubon's Birds of America and Quadru- 

 peds of North America, for exchange with foreign Governments for val- 

 uable works. 



The next steps for inaugurating a system of government documents 

 exchange was taken in 18G7, when Congress, in its thirty-ninth session 

 passed the following resolution to provide for the exchange of certain 

 public documents: 



"Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States 

 in Congress assembled, That fifty copies of all documents hereafter printed 

 by order fit either house of Congress, and fifty copies additional of all 

 documents printed in excess of the usual number, together with fifty 

 copies of each publication issued by any Department or Bureau of the 

 Government, be placed at the disposal of the Joint Committee on the 

 Library, who shall exchange the same, through the agency of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, for such works published in foreign countries, and 

 especially by foreign Governments, as may be deemed by said commit- 

 tee an equivalent; said works to be deposited in the Library of Con- 

 gress. 



"Approved March 2, 1867." 



The last and decisive Congressional action was taken on July 25, 

 1868, when it passed. 



"(No. 72) A resolution to carry into effect the resolution approved March 

 2, 1867, providing for the exchange of certain public documents. 



" Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States in Congress assembled, That the Congressional Printer, whenever 

 he shall be so directed by the Joint Committee on the Library, be, and he 

 hereby is, directed to print fifty copies, in addition to the regular num- 

 ber, of all documents hereafter printed by order of either house of Con- 

 gress, or by order of any Department or Bureau of the Government, and 

 whenever he shall be so directed by the Joint Committee ou the Library 

 one hundred copies additional of all documents ordered to be printed, 

 in excess of the usual number ; said fifty or one hundred copies to be de- 

 livered to the Librarian of Congress, to be exchanged, under direction of 

 the Joint Committee on the Library, as provided by joint resolution 

 approved March 2, 1867. 



"Sec. 2. And be it further resolved, That fifty copies of each publica- 

 tion printed under direction of any Department or Bureau of the Govern- 

 ment, whether at the Congressional Printing Office or elsewhere, shall 

 be placed at the disposal of the Joint Committee ou the Library, to carry 

 out the provisions of said resolution. 



"Approved July 25, 1868," 



