PORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, 1881-1883. 901 



of its own publications should in equity be paid by the United States 

 Government, for the reason that the proceeds of these exchanges (now 

 forming- a library of about 100,000 volumes) are all deposited in the 

 Congressional Library as soon as received. 



(2) The system enables the several departments and bureaus of the 

 Government to obtain valuable materials for their respective libraries 

 by exchange of their publications for those of corresponding depart- 

 ments and bureaus of other governments, and which publications can 

 be obtained only through exchange. 



(3) The work of the Institution for the benefit of other establish- 

 ments in this country is national in its character, tending greatly to 

 advance general science and popular education. 



Your predecessor in office, realizing this drain upon the resources 

 of the Smithsonian, requested Congress for an appropriation of $7,000, 

 which was the estimated cost of the work at the time. An allowance, 

 however, of only $3,000 was granted. The money was placed in charge 

 of the Interior Department, this disposition of it being made presum- 

 ably at the instance of the Department of State, and as an indication of 

 its preference to be relieved from further responsiliilit}^ in the matter; 

 and for this reason the Smithsonian Institution made direct application 

 to Congress for an appropriation of $5,000 for the coming fiscal year. 

 This estimate, though entirely below the sum requisite for carrying on 

 the work, was submitted as more likely to be allowed than a larger 

 amount. I trust that if the Department of State is willing to continue 

 its efforts in connection with the exchanges, it will ask for at least 

 $10,000 for the service. If it is desirable that the Smithsonian should 

 also take charge of the Government and other exchanges now passing 

 through the State Department, a still larger sum will be required. 



It will be entirely agreeable to the Smithsonian Institution to prose- 

 cute the exchange system under the general direction of the Depart- 

 ment of State, and thereby secure the services of consuls or foreign 

 ministers of the United States in those countries where national 

 bureaus of exchange have not yet been established. 



Commending the subject to your early and careful consideration, 

 I have the honor to be, etc., 



Spencer F. Baird, 

 Secretary of BmitJisonian Institution. 



As the amount ($3,000) appropriated by Congress in assistance of 

 the Institution for the last year (1881) had been placed under the direc- 

 tion of the Interior Department, the subject of the desired extension 

 of Government aid was naturally referred to the honorable Secretary 

 of the Interior for his opinion. The following communication 

 expresses his entire approval of the project: 



