66 BOARD OF REGENTS. 



by Mr. Rcnwick, and the proposition of the contractor, the building will be rendered 

 safe and durable, at a very reasonable cost, considering the amount of work which has 

 been bestowed upon it. 



The committee do not consider it necessary to offer any remarks on the cause of the 

 accident which led to these investigations. If these recommendations be adopted, tho 

 whole structure of the interior of the main building, in which the accident occurred, 

 will be exchanged for one more in accordance with the permanence and utility of the 

 ediiiee ; and in this case they will consider the accident as a fortunate event. 

 All of which is respectfully submitted. 



JEFFERSON DAVIS, Chairman. 



W. W. SEATON. 



H. W. BILLIARD. 



JOS. G. TOTTEN. 



ALEX. D. BACIIE. 



JOSEPH HENEY. 



On motion of Mr. Pearcc, it was — 



Resolved, That tho report of the committee of the Board of Regents charged with- 

 the examination of the building, presented this da}*, be accepted ; and that the Build- 

 ing Committee be directed to proceed with the work, in accordance with the recom- 

 mendation thereof. 



The following resolution, offered by Mr. Davis, and amended by 

 Mr. Fitch, was adopted : 



Resolved, That the Executive Committee be authorized to advance to the contractor 

 within the year ending 19th March, 1851, in addition to the sum which he is now 

 allowed to expend upon the building within tho aforesaid year, the sum of $17,980, 

 in proportion to work done in addition to what would otherwise have been done, and 

 on condition of his paying interest at the rate of six per cent, per annum upon the 

 said advance from the time at which ho receives it to March 19, 1851. 



The committee, consisting of the Secretary and chairman of the 

 Executive Committee, to whom was referred a resolution directing 

 them to report a system of keeping and disbursing the moneys of 

 the institution, reported the following resolutions ; which were read, 

 and, on motion, adopted : 



Resolved, That the Secretary be authorized to appoint an assistant, to act as treas- 

 urer, to take charge of tho funds for the current expenses of the institution, who shall 

 give security for the safekeeping of all money belonging to the institution which shall 

 come into his possession: 



That the funds before mentioned be deposited, until otherwise ordered, with Messrs. 

 Corcoran and Riggs, to the credit of the treasurer of tho institution : 



That all bills presented for payment shall be audited and certified by the Secretary, 

 on whose order the treasurer shall pay them : 



That the treasurer report to the Secretary, monthly, all payments made by him 

 during the preceding month : 



That all the monthly accounts be examined and certified by tho Executive Commit- 

 tee quarterly. 



That the account books be kept in the Smithsonian building, so that the Secretary 

 and Executive Committee may have ready access to them. 



The Secretary then nominated Mr. Seaton as a suitable person to 

 perform the duties of treasurer, and the nomination was unani- 

 mously confirmed by the Board. 



The Secretary stated to the Board that Mr. Seaton would accept 

 the office of treasurer, but would not consent to receive any com- 

 pensation for his services. 



