REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 585 



Appropriation for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1876. 

 (Digest of Appropriations, 1876, p. 105.) 



For preservation of collections $20, 000 00 



For fitting up new halls 10, 000 00 



For completing heating apparatus 2, 500 00 



$32, 500 00 



Expenditure from July 1, 1875, to December 31, 1875. (Mu- 

 seum Journal A, p. 163) 22, 8S1 32 



Balance unexpended $0, 618 68 



Bequired for the six months ending 30th June, 1876. 



The estimates submitted by the Institution to Congress for appropri- 

 ations for the fiscal year ending 30th June, 1877, were as follows: 

 For preservation of tbe collections of the surveying and ex- 

 ploring expeditions of the Government $25, 000 00 



For fitting up apartments for mounting and photographing 

 specimens 5, 000 00 



30,000 00 



This sum is $5,000 less than the amount asked for the previous year. 



All tbe payments on account of tbe National Museum have been 

 made, during the past year, directly by the disbursing-officer of the 

 Department of the Interior on the presentation of voucbers approved 

 by the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 



SUMMARY. 



The Executive Committee have examined five hundred and ninety- 

 eight vouchers for payments made from the Smithson income during 

 the year 1875, and tbree hundred and forty-six similar voucbers lor 

 payments made from the Congressional appropriations for the National 

 Museum, making a total number of nine hundred and forty-four voucbers. 



All of the vouchers have the approval of tbe Secretary of tbe Institu- 

 tion, and a certificate setting forth that the materials and property and 

 services rendered were for the Institution, and to be applied to the pur- 

 poses specified. 



As authorized by a resolution of the Board of Regents, 26th May, 

 1874, the committee have also examined the account-books of the Na- 

 tional Museum and find the balance of $9,618.68 to the credit of the 

 appropriation for the "preservation of tbe collections" remaining on 

 the 1st of January, 1876, to correspond with the certificate of the dis- 

 bursing-clerk of the Department of the Interior. 



The quarterly accounts current, bank-book, check-book, and ledger 

 have also been examined and found to be correct, showing a balance in 



