678 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. HoLMAN. I submit the amendment to striKe out the 

 clause ; and I desire to say, in addition to the explanation 

 contained in the extract just read, that according to the 

 last report made by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution there seems to be on hand, of the appropriations for 

 the last few years, the sum of ^55,148.09. This amount of 

 money is under the control of that institution — $30,910.14 

 being annually paid out of the Treasury of the United 

 States for its maintenance.. It is very true that this is interest 

 on money which the Government assumed to pay — money 

 which seems to have been loaned out many years ago, and 

 lost. Still it is a direct charge on the Treasury. _ 



Now it seems to me that one of the most desirable fea- 

 tures in connection with the Smithsonian Institution, and 

 that which gives to it any degree of popularity, is the mu- 

 seum for the preservation of which this appropriation is 

 designed to be made ; and it seems to me that, with so 

 large a fund as that institution now has in its hands, and 

 inasmuch as its object is the diffusion of knowledge among 

 mankind, and as the museum is as effectual in accomplish- 

 ing that purpose as any other, this $4,000 can very ^yell be 

 paid for such an object out of the annual appropriation. I 

 therefore make the motion that this entire section be stricken 

 out. 



Mr. Morrill, of Vermont. I dislike to oppose the mo- 

 tion of the gentlemen from Indiana, because I believe he is 

 sincerely desirous of saving money to the Government. But 

 in relation to this particular item I think he labors under a 

 slight mistake. Now it is true that all our naval officers 

 are instructed, or at least are in the habit of contributing 

 every year to a very great extent specimens of natural 

 history which are deposited in the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion. This institution also receives a large collection of 

 specimens in natural history from the various surveying 

 and exploring expeditions. So large has been the receipts 

 by this institution of these specimens that they have sup- 

 plied many of the scientific associations in the country. 

 This appropriation therefore is not for the benefit of the 

 Smithsonian Institution particularly, but to enable them to 

 take care of and distribute these contributions that are now 

 deposited there, and which they would be very glad to be 

 relieved from the care of. It is but a small item, and, so 

 far as I know, the only one we make for the benefit of sci- 

 ence. I hope it will not be stricken out. 



Mr. HoLMAN. I ask the gentleman whether a very large 

 amount of the interest annually paid upon the Smithsonian 



