THIllTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS, 1863-1865. 645 



intekp:st on smithson fund. 



March 2, 1865— House. 



Mr. John H. Rice, of Maine. I offer the following as an additional 

 amendment to the [Sundry civil] bill: 



And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to pay the 

 interest on the pubUo debt due the Smithsonian Institution in the same funds as the 

 interest on other permanent debts due by the United States prior to the present rebel- 

 Ut)n have been and are paid; and in case the interest heretofore paid to said Institution 

 has been paid in a different currency and of less value than that paid by the Govern- 

 ment on other permanent debts or trust funds, that the Secretary be directed to make 

 up the difference to said Smithsonian Institution. 



Mr. Thaddeus Stevens. Why not put in the word "gold" at once? 



Mr. W. S. HoLMAN. I rise to a question of order. This is not an . 

 appropriation in accordance with law, but it is an attempt to appro- 

 priate a specific sum of money in gold instead of the ordinary currency 

 of the country. 



The Chaikman. The Chair sustains the point of order, and rules the 

 amendment out of order. 



Mr. S. S. Cox. I appeal from the decision of the Chair, and I desire 

 to be heard a moment in explanation. This is not an appropriation. 

 It is only a direction to the Secretary of the Treasury to pay the inter- 

 est on this special fund in gold, as it always has been paid, and as it 

 ought to be paid now. 



Mr. E. B. Washburne, of Illinois. I rise to a question of order. 

 Has not the debate been closed on this bill? 



The Chairman. It has, and the Chair adheres lo its decision. 



Mr. Cox. I wish the Chair could have had the facts of the case 

 before him before he decided it. I respectfully appeal from the deci- 

 sion of the Chair. 



The question was. Shall the decision of the Chair stand as the judg- 

 ment of the committee ? 



The question was taken and the decision of the Chair was sustained. 



Mr. R. P. Spalding. I move to insert the following as an additional 

 section : 



Sec. — . And be it further enacted, That there be appropriated for the purpose of 

 making repairs upon the building of the Smithsonian Institution, lately injured by 

 fire, the sum of $50,000. 



Mr. Washburne, of Illinois. I raise the point of order that this 

 amendment proposes to change the existing law, and is therefore out 

 of order. 



The Chairman. The Chair sustains the point of order. 

 March 3, 1865— Senate. 



The next amendment was to insert the following as a new section: 



And be it further enacted, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to pay 

 the interest on the debt due the Smithsonian Institution in coin, as the interest on 

 other permanent debts due by the United States jDrior to the present rebellion have 

 been and are paid. 



