238 CONGRESSIONAL PK0CEEDIN(3S. 



PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. 



Senate, February 10, 1841. 



Agreeably to notice, Mr. Linn asked and obtained leave 

 to bring in a bill (S. 245) to appoint trustees for the invest- 

 ment of the Smithsonian fund ; which was read the first and 

 second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the 

 Committee on the Library. 



The bill is as follows : 



[S. No. 245.] 



A BILL to appoint Trustees for the investment of the Smithsonian fund. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretaries of the State, 

 the Treasury, the "War, and the Navy Departments, the Attorney General, 

 and the Postmaster General, be, and they are hereby, constituted trustees 

 of the Smithsonian fund, with power to invest the same in safe public funds, 

 and to change said investment when, in their judgment, it may be desir- 

 able : Provided, however, That said trustees shall, under no circumstances, 

 diminish or expend the principal of said fund ; but that all expenses of in- 

 vestments of said fund, or for other purposes, as provided by law, shall be 

 paid out of the interest which has accrued, or which may accrue, from said 

 fund. 



Sec. 2. A7id be it further enacted. That said trustees shall have power to 

 appoint a treasurer and .secretary to the board of trustees, who shall give 

 bond in the penal sum of dollars for the faithful performance of 



his duties, and shall be removable from office at the pleasure of the board 

 of trustees, and shall be entitled to receive a compensation for his services 

 not exceeding dollars per annum. The said treasurer and secre- 



tary shall perform his duties under the direction of the board of trustees, 

 and shall render his accounts quarterly to the Treasury Department The 

 proceedings of said board shall be reported annually to Congress; and 

 their transactions, books, and papers, shall be open to such investigations, 

 and the board shall answer such inquiries, in relation to their official action, 

 as Congress, or a resolution of either House, shall from time to time direct. 



Sec. 3. A^id be it further enacted, That the Smithsonian Institution shall 

 consist of one superintendent, who shall receive a compensation of 

 dollars per annum, and six professors, each of whom shall receive a com- 

 pensation of dollars per anaum. The foregoing named officers 

 to be appointed in the following manner : the National Institution for the 

 promotion of science, established in the city of Washington, shall nominate 

 said officers to the President, to be, if approved by him, submitted to the 

 Senate for its advice and consent. The said superintendent and professors 

 shall hold their offices during the term of four years, and perform such 

 duties as shall be designated by the said National Institution. The said 

 institution shall also prescribe the duties of such officers, as it may find 

 necessary to appoint, for the preservation of the buildings, grounds, and 

 other property belonging to the institution : Provided, however, That no 

 greater number of such officers shall be appointed, than shall be approved 

 by the President of the United States, and at no higher compensations, 

 than he shall approve: And provided, also, That all contingent expenses 

 necessary in the execution of the duties of said officers, shall be approved by 

 the Secretary of State, and the President of the aforesaid National Insti- 

 tution. 



