APPENDIX 1 

 REPORT ON THE UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report on the con- 

 dition and operations of the United States National Museum for 

 the fiscal year ended June 30, 1925. 



The appropriations for the maintenance of the National Museum 

 for the fiscal year amounted to $584,792, an increase of $52,396 over 

 the previous year. This increase, however, is more apparent than 

 real so far as providing additional funds for the operation of the 

 Museum is concerned, since $44,534 of the amount represented 

 the sum required for increase of salaries from the inauguration 

 of the schedules authorized by the reclassification act of 1923, which 

 became effective July 1, 1924, while subsequent reallocations of 

 employees by the Personnel Classification Board resulted in increas- 

 ing salary allotments approximately $9,000 beyond the estimated 

 amount. It thus transpired that the amounts available for actual 

 operating expenses were less than during the previous year. More- 

 over, the reclassification act had the effect of reducing the amount 

 provided for printing and binding since increase in salaries in the 

 Government Printing OfHce inaugurated under it resulted in 

 increased cost in printing, thus reducing the production value of the 

 sum allotted for that purpose to the Museum. 



Attention has been called repeatedly in these annual reports on 

 operation to the great disproportion between the increase in the 

 appropriations provided for the maintenance of the Museum and 

 the increase in the size of its collections, as well as in the quantity, 

 scope, and importance of its exhibition and research work and its 

 service to the public at large. Through the unselfish efforts of the 

 personnel and the practice of the most rigid economy it has been 

 possible until now to maintain a high degree of efficiency, but the 

 very fact of its steady growth will curtail the usefulness of the 

 Museum as a factor in the field of science and education unless it 

 can be assured of sufficient funds to cover its natural and proper 

 expansion. There is urgent need now for additional funds for 

 operation, and for reasonable sums for the purchase of specimens 

 and for use in minor explorations. Rich additions to the collections 

 are received each year through specimens deposited by Government 

 agencies or presented by private donors. Definite gaps in all lines 

 exist, however, that may be filled only by purchase of desirable 

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