FORTY-SEVENTH CONGRESS, 1881-1883. 917 



March 3. 1883. 



Deficiency act for 1883, etc. 



To complete the transfer and preparation of the Philadelphia col- 

 lections presented to the United States at the close of the Permanent 

 International Exhibition in Philadelphia, including necessary expenses 

 already incurred, 14,112.82. 



(Stat., XXII, 584.) 



The accounting officers of the Treasury are hereby" authorized to 

 pass to the credit of Herbert A. Gill the sum of $150, for services 

 performed in connection with the National Museum during the second 

 and third quarters of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1881. 



(Stat., XXII., 589.) 



DOCUMENTS. 



Augusts, 1882— House. 



Mr. William M. Speinger. I ask consent to offer the following 

 resolution for present consideration. 



Mr. James A. McKenzie. I reserve the right to object. There is 

 too much of this thing. 



The Speaker (Mr. J. W. Keifer). The resolution will be read. 



The Clerk read as follows: 



Resolved, That the Librarian of Congress, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, and the superintendent of documents, Department of the Interior be, and they' 

 are hereby, requested to compile the laws and regulations now in force governing 

 the printing and distribution of puljlic documents, to prepare a tabulated statement 

 showing the number of documents printed by order of the Forty-sixth and tlie first 

 session of the Forty-seventh Congresses, and under general laws now in force, the dis- 

 tribution directed to be made of the same; to report what reduction should be made 

 in the number of such documents, and present such other information at their com- 

 mand relating to public documents as will tend to jjromote judicious legislation, ami 

 submit the draft of a bill to provide for the printing and distribution of documents; 

 and they shall report to the House at the beginning of the next session. 



Mr. Springer. I ask that this resolution be passed, as it will cost 

 nothing whatever. These gentlemen are alread}^ in the employ of the 

 Government, and thej^ will be able to furnish much valuable informa- 

 tion upon a very important subject. This information if received, as 

 I believe it will be from them, will enable us to know the exact num- 

 ber of documents published by authority of law, their distribution, 

 and the cost of the same. I move the previous question on the 

 adoption of the resolution. 



The previous question was ordered, and the resolution agreed to. 

 December 22, 1882— House. 



Report presented by J. G. Ames, superintendent of documents in 

 the Interior Department, A. R. Spofford, Librarian of Congress, and 

 Spencer F, Baird, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, regarding 

 the pu])lication and distribution of public documents, in compliance 



