FORTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1875-77. 755 



February 7, 1877. — Mr. Clymer. I ask unanimous con- 

 sent to present for reference to the Committee on Public 

 Buildings and Grounds a memorial of the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, and beg permission briefly to ex- 

 plain its import. 



It sets forth that many foreign nations, states, and indi- 

 viduals, by whom articles were sent to the centennial exhi- 

 bition at Philadelphia, have made noble and valuable gifts 

 to the Government of the United States of objects of art, 

 of lire-arms, of mineral and agricultural products, and of 

 artistic and mechanic skill. It may not be disputed that 

 the acceptance of them by the Government imposes an ob- 

 ligation that they shall be preserved and exhibited for the 

 gratification and instruction of the people. Their preserva- 

 tion and exhibition must be confided to the National Mu- 

 seum, of which by law the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution have the custody. They have presented for our 

 consideration the necessity for erecting a suitable building 

 for the purposes I have indicated, giving an estimate of its 

 probable cost. I do not ask that the memorial be printed 

 in the Record, as one of like import was presented to the 

 Senate, which will be found in its proceedings of yesterday. 

 I therefore ask its reference to the Committee on Public 

 Buildings and Grounds, and that the accompanying list, 

 setting forth the names of the donors and the character of 

 them, be printed in the Record for the information of the 

 House and the country. 



Mr. Casey Young. I will say to the gentleman from 

 Pennsylvania that there is already a bill pending before the 

 Oommittee on Public Buildings and Grounds, on which a 

 favorable report has been prepared, and we only wait a 

 meeting of the committee to order it to be reported. 



Mr. Clymer. I am delighted to have that information. 

 But it can do the committee no harm to have the memorial 

 referred to it. 



The Speaker. The gentleman from Pennsylvania asks 

 unanimous consent to present a memorial of the Regents 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, and to have the same referred 

 to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, not to 

 be brought back on a motion to reconsider. Is there ob- 

 jection ? 



Mr. Clymer. I also ask that the list attached to the 

 memorial be printed in the Record. 



Mr. Townsend, of Pennsylvania. I ask that the memo- 

 rial itself be printed in the Record. 



Mr. Clymer. With the accompanying list. 



