REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 7 



In addition to the above permanent fund, the Kegems hold certain 

 approved railroad bonds, forming- part of the fund established by 

 Mr. Hodgkins for investigations of the properties of atmospheric air. 



The fundamental act organizing the Institution (Section 5591, U. S. 

 Revised Statutes) was amended by act of Congress approved by the 

 President March 12, 1891, as follows: 



The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized and directed to receive 

 into the Treasury, on the same terms as the original bequest of James 

 Smithson, such sums as the Regents may, from time to time, see fit to 

 deposit, not exceeding- with the original bequest the sum of one mil- 

 lion dollars: Provided^ That this shall not operate as a limitation on 

 the power of the Smithsonian Institution to receive monev or other 

 property l)v gift, l)equest, or devise, and to hold and dispose of the 

 same in promotion of the purposes thereof. 



The permanent fund of $912,000, as above, is deposited, under this 

 provision, in the Treasury of the United States, and bears interest at 

 6 per cent per annum, the interest alone being used in carrying out 

 the aims of the Institution. 



At the beginning- of the fiscal year, July 1, 1899, the unexpended 

 balance, as stated in my last report, was |71:,703.-12. The total receipts 

 for the 3'ear were $60,809.81, being- $56,100 derived from the interest 

 on the permanent fund in the Treasury and elsewhere, and $1,109.81 

 received from miscellaneous sources. 



The disbursements for the j^ear amounted to $59,291.16, the details 

 of which are given in the report of the executive committee. The 

 balance remaining- to the credit of the Secretary on June 30, 1900, for 

 the expenses of the Institution was $76,219.07, which includes the 

 $10,000 specilically referred to in previous reports, as well as the 

 interest accumulated on the Hodgkins and other funds, which is held 

 against certain contingent obligations, besides relatively considerable 

 sums held to meet liabilities which may be expected to mature as a 

 result of various scientitic investigations and publications in progress. 



Congress charged the Institution during the fiscal year 1900 with 

 the disbursement of the following appropriations: 



International Exchanges, Smithsonian Institution $24, 000 



American Ethnology, Sn:iithsonian Institution. 50, 000 



United States National Museum: 



Preservation of collections 1 70, 000 



Furniture and fixtures 25, 000 



Heating and lighting 1-1, 000 



Postage 500 



Repairs to buildings - ti, 000 



Rent of workshops 4, 040 



Books 2, 000 



Printing 17, 000 



National Zoological Park 75, 000 



Astrophysical Observatory, Smithsonian Institution 10, OUO 



