612 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. THOMAS BRAGG. I hope the Senator will speak louder; he can 

 not be heard. 



Mr. FESSENDEN. I say there were a great many duplicates of the 

 collections which are proposed to be distributed among 1 the several 

 States, and this sum is necessary in order to have them arranged and 

 distributed. 



Mr. J. W. GRIMES. How many such appropriations have been made 

 for distribution heretofore? 



Mr. FESSENDEN. This is the first appropriation of the sort: 



For the distribution of the collections of the exploring and surveying expcaiuons 

 of the Government, and the construction of additional cases to receive such part of 

 said collections as may be retained by the Government, $6,000. 



There are two things provided for in this amendment. Both are 

 necessary. The sum is a very reasonable one. The Committee on 

 Finance examined this matter, and came to the conclusion that it was 

 proper to make this appropriation. The only alteration we have made 

 is to put it in a better shape than it was before. The chairman of the 

 committee thought the lines proposed to be stricken out were indefinite. 



Mr. GRIMES. I understand this is the first appropriation ever made 

 for distribution ? 



Mr. FESSENDEN. Yes, sir. 



Mr. J. A. PEARCE. Mr. President, these collections are made by all 

 the expeditions sent out by the Government. A great many of them 

 are sent overland to the Northwest. All of them bring home col- 

 lections of natural history. They are all sent to the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, where they are arranged and classified. We have no means for 

 keeping these specimens there; and it is very desirable that the dupli- 

 cates should be given to the colleges and scientific institutions through- 

 out the country. This appropriation is not a large one. These 

 specimens have been collecting for a number of years; and the object 

 now is to distribute them to places where they would be valuable; 

 that is all. 



Mr. GRIMES. Under what law, to what institutions, and in what 

 manner are they distributed? 



Mr. PEARCE. There is no law that I am aware of for the distribution; 

 but it has been proposed by the Secretary of the Interior that these 

 objects should be thus distributed. They will be distributed by the 

 Smithsonian Institution, in whose care they are placed. 



Mr. GRIMES. According to the discretion of the superintendent of 

 that institution? 



Mr. PEARCE. Yes, sir; with the approbation of the Interior Depart- 

 ment, of course, which is required for all things of this sort. 



Mr. HALE. Then, I think, Congress should not appropriate the 

 money. I think they ought to be distributed by law, as books and 



