FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1885-1887. 1003 



July 17, 1886— House. 



Mr. James W. Reid. I ask now to call up the joint resolution (H. 

 120) to print the annual bulletins of the Bureau of Ethnology. 



The joint resolution was read. 



Mr. Reid, of North Carolina. I ask for the reading of the report. 



The report (by Mr. Reid, of North Carolina) was then read. 



(See House proceedings of March 25, 1886). 



Mr. S. J. Randall. Mr. Speaker, I would like to inquire of the 

 gentleman from North Carolina, who is on the Printing Committee, 

 what year this report is for, and how far the printing already ordered 

 in connection with ethnology has been advanced? In other words, 

 whether we now need to authorize this printing in advance of the 

 year not yet completed. 



Mr. Reid, of North Carolina. In response to the gentleman from 

 Pennsylvania I will say that as I understand it this is for the current 

 year. It has been issued in pamphlets, and the cost, as I have esti- 

 mated it, and as the estimate was furnished by the Chief of the Bureau 

 of Ethnology, Major Powell, is about $2,500 to $3,000 a year. As he 

 collects the material he proposes to issue it as a bulletin. We went 

 to the office and made an estimate. He exhibited to the Committee on 

 Printing specimens of one of the bulletins and the way he proposes to 

 issue it from month to month. It will cost from $2,500 to $3,000 per 

 annum. 



Mr. Randall. For which year? 



Mr. Reid, of North Carolina. For the present current year. 



Mr. Randall. How far back has the ethnological report been 

 printed ? 



Mr, Reid, of North Carolina. I do not know. 



Mr. Randall. If I recollect aright, not later than 1884. 



Mr. Ransom W. Dunham. Not later than 1883. 



Mr. Randall. I do not think we ought to authorize the printing of 

 reports for 1885 until we know how far advanced and what is the 

 result of the printing of the report for 1883. 



This is one of the abuses, as I think, in connection with the scientific 

 bureaus of the Government. It will be remembered that in the sun- 

 dry civil bill we have endeavored to restrict this matter. While we 

 have given every dollar that is essential to the Bureau, we ought to 

 restrict the printing, which has come, as the commission showed, to 

 be an abuse. 



Mr. Reid, of North Carolina. I will withdraw the consideration of 

 the joint resolution for the present. 



Mr. Randall. This is for the data not yet collected. We are pro- 

 viding for the printing of matter that has not yet come from the hands 

 of those people who are being sent to the field to gather it. 



The Speaker pro tempore (Mr. Alexander M. Dookery). The 

 gentleman from North Carolina withdraws the joint resolution. 



