FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 971 



Ordered to lie on the talkie. 

 December 10, 1885— Senate. 



Mr. J. S. Morrill called up the joint resolution in relation to the 

 Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. 



Mr. Morrill. I will merely state that this joint resolution is for 

 the reappointment of three of the present Regents, and to supply the 

 vacancy in consequence of the removal of General Sherman from the 

 city, in whose place the name inserted is that of General Meigs. 



The resolution was then read. 



Mr. John J. Ingalls. Has the joint resolution been reported by 

 any committee? 



The President pro tempore (Mr. G. F. Edmunds). It has not been 

 reported. 



Mr. Ingalls. It appears to me that in a matter of this consequence 

 we ought not to be called upon to act on the joint resolution without 

 having the opinion of some committee on the subject. I shall hear 

 with interest what the Senator from Vermont has to say upon the 

 subject, but I am very clear that we should have the opinion of a 

 committee. 



Mr. Morrill. In the first place, I will say that I am not aware of 

 any appropriate committee to which this measure could be referred; 

 and, in the next place, the joint resolution merely provides for the 

 reappointment of three distinguished citizens, of different States, who 

 have already served their term, which has expired, and the other 

 nomination made is that of General Meigs, to supply the place of 

 General Sherman, who is no longer eligible in consequence of having 

 removed from the city of Washington, and the original law requires 

 two to be residents of the city of Washington. 



I may say that I was unfortunate in not conversing with the Sena- 

 tor from Kansas, but I conversed with quite a number of other 

 Senators, who agreed that the presentation of the name of General 

 Meigs was an eminentlj^ proper one to be made. 



Mr. Daniel W. Voorhees. May I inquire whether there is anj^ 

 new name suggested in that list with the exception of that of General 

 Meigs ? 



Mr. Morrill. That is the onl}^ one. 



Mr. Voorhees. So I understood. 



The President pro tempore. Is the Chair to understand the Sena- 

 tor from Kansas as moving to refer the joint resolution to a commit- 

 tee? If not, the joint resolution is before the Senate as in Committee 

 of the Whole. 



Mr, S. B, Maxey, As a member of the Board of Regents, 1 wish to 

 say in reply to the suggestion of the Senator from Kansas that the 

 character of General Meigs is too well known to require the report of 

 any committee of this body, and the reason which actuated me in sus- 



