'658 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. Hunter. The proposition is to strike out one, and 

 insert; so that now is the time to speak upon it. 



Mr. Fessenden. Not at all. 



The Presiding Officer. No, sir; this precedes the other. 

 The question is on the adoption of the amendment last read. 



Mr. Hunter. Is that an amendment on which we can 

 come at this question? 



The Presiding Officer. No, sir ; it is the amendment 

 that precedes it. 



Mr. Grimes. It is the amendment in line two hundred 

 and twenty, I understand. 



The Presiding Officer. The Secretary will report the 

 amendment. 



The Secretary again read it. On page 10, line two hun- 

 dred and twenty, to strike out the words, " and distribu- 

 tion ; " so that the clause will read : 



Exploring Expedition. — For preservation of the collections of the explor- 

 ing and surveying expeditions of the Government, $4,000. 



Mr. Pearce. These words were improperly put in. That 

 appropriation is the one which we make annually. These 

 collections were all in the Patent Office, and as the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior wanted the Patent Office for other pur- 

 poses, provision was made by law for transferring these 

 collections to the Smithsonian Institution, the Government 

 paying the expense. The annual expense is about four 

 thousand dollars. By a mistake the word " distribution " 

 was put in the bill as it came from the House of Representa- 

 tives. This money is wanted for the preservation of the 

 collections, and not for their distribution ; and therefore we 

 move to strike out the words " and distribution." 



The motion to strike out was agreed to. 



The Secretary read the next amendment of the Committee 

 on Finance ; which was to strike out line two hundred twen- 

 ty-three to line two hundred and twenty-six, inclusive, in 

 the following words : 



" For the preservation of the collections of the exploring and surveying 

 expeditions of the Government, and the construction of suitable cases to 

 receive said collections, $6,000." 



Mr. Grimes. ' Mr. President — 



Mr. Fessenden. Striking out these words will accomplish 

 the Senator's purpose. 



Mr. Grimes. I do not know that. The bill, as it came 

 from the House of Representatives, furnished an appropria- 

 tion for the preservation of these things. That I am willing 

 shall be done ; but I am unwilling that a distribution shall 



