DISCOURSE OF W. B. TAYLOR: NOTES. 415 



parts of the plan of organization, but may mention that it included 

 the exchange of the published transactions of the Institution with 

 those of literary and scientific societies and establishments, and pro- 

 vided for a museum, and library, to consist of a complete collec- 

 tion of the transactions and proceedings of all the learned societies 

 in the world, of the more important current periodical publications 

 and other works necessary to scientific investigations ; thus employ- 

 ing the instrumentalities pointed out in the law, as means of in- 

 creasing and diffusing knowledge, entirely consistent with and 

 necessary to the plan of research and publication. This plan is no 

 longer experimental ; it has been tested by experience ; its success is 

 acknowledged by all who are capable of forming a correct estimate 

 of its results; and the Institution has every encouragement to pur- 

 sue steadily its system of stimulating, assisting, and publishing 

 research. - - - The committee submit to the Board the follow- 

 ing resolutions : Resolved, That the seventh resolution passed by the 

 Board of Regents on the 26th of January, 1847, requiring an 

 equal division of the income between the active operations, and the 

 museum and library, (when the buildings are completed,) be and it 

 is hereby repealed. Resolved, That hereafter the annual appropri- 

 ations shall be apportioned specifically among the different objects 

 and operations of the Institution in such manner as may in the 

 judgment of the Regents be necessary and proper for each, accord- 

 ing to its intrinsic importance and a compliance in good faith with 

 the law." * This report was signed by six of the committee : Mr, 

 Meacham the last appointed member dissenting, and submitting an 

 elaborate minority report, which comprised a very able and inge- 

 nious argument in defence of the library plan, f The resolutions 

 offered by the committee were adopted by the Board of Regents 

 January 15, 1855. 



As six of the fifteen Regents were by law selected from senators 

 and representatives, a very obvious resort for a member dissatisfied 

 with the action of a majority, was a motion in Congress for the 

 familiar "committee of inquiry." Accordingly Hon. James Mea- 

 cham moved in the House, January 17, 1855,, that a select commit- 

 tee of five be appointed, "and that said committee be directed to 

 inquire and report to the House whether the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion has been managed, and its funds expended in accordance with 

 the law establishing the Institution; and whether any additional 

 legislation be necessary to carry out the designs of its founders : 

 and that said committee have power to send for persons and papers." 

 The resolution was adopted by a vote of 93 to 91 ,$ 



* Smithsonian Report for 1853, pp. 81-97 (Sen. ed.) 



t Smithsonian Report for 1853, (appendix to H. B. ed.) pp. 247-296. 



f The Smithsonian Institution, By W. J. Rhees, pp. 569-572. 



