REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 13 



berofscietitific lueii tbrouiihout the world, has received sueh attention 

 in my recent reports that it seems unnecessary to dwell upon it at 

 length here. 



Tlie work of the bureau continues to increase, and in spite of many 

 labor-saving devices in the clerical work suggested by experience, it will 

 be impossible to meet all the demands made for transi)ortation of doc- 

 uments unless some considerable inciease is also made in the amount 

 appropriated by the General Government in the near i'uture. 



The United States Government has undertaken, by a treaty fornni- 

 lated at Brussels in 1886, and iiually proclaimed by the President in 

 1889, to carry on a system of international exchanges. These various 

 countries adhering to the treaty have formally agreed each to estab- 

 lish a bureau charged with the duty of attending to the exchange of 

 official documents, i)ar]iamentary and administrative, which are pub 

 lished in the country of their origin, and the bureaus of exchange will 

 furthermore serve as intermediaries between the learned bodies and 

 literary and scientific societies of the contracting States for the recep- 

 tion and transmission of their i)ublications. 



In transmitting al)road each State assumes the expenses of i)acking 

 and transportation to the place of destination, but when the transmis- 

 sions are made by sea, special arrangements i-egulate the share of each 

 State in the expense of transportation. 



The Smithsonian Institution, having since 1850 conducted an ex- 

 change service with means of communication over the entire world, has 

 been charged by the United States Government with the conduct of 

 its own exchange business, and appropriations for the purpose have 

 accordingly been made of late years to the Institution,- covering at 

 present tlie greater part of the expense. The deticiency arising each 

 year has been met from the Smithsonian fund, and tlie Institution hag 

 continued its i)aid agents in I'^ngland and in Germany, as these two 

 countries have not signitied their adherence to the treaty in question, 

 but maintain exchange relaticnis with the United States independently 

 of other countries concerned in the treaty. By referring to the cura- 

 tor's statistical report contained in the Ajipendix, it will be seen that 

 over 100 tons of books passed through the exchange office during the 

 fiscal year, representing 07,0:J7 ])ackages — an increase of (),3()L packages 

 over the number liandled during the prc^ceding year — while n\)on the 

 exchange books, accounts of pnblications received and transnutted are 

 kei)t with 20,082 societies or institutions and individuals. The expen- 

 ditures upon this account haveauKninted to $2(),.)10.49, of which $17,000 

 were ap[)ropriated by (Congress, $2,108.11 Avere repaid by Government 

 bureaus, and $30.75 by State institutions and others, leaving a 

 deficiency of $1,171.30 to be met by the Smithsonian Institution. 



The exjjcnses, it will be noted, take no acconnt of the rent value of 

 the rooms in the Institution occnpied in this manner b>' the (Jeneral 

 Government for exchange i)urposes, or that portion of the; service ot 



