640 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



members of the National Institute in the city of Washington. The 

 National Institute was an incorporated association, and its charter has 

 expired. It did not meet with much success; it has been dissolved; 

 and there are now no members of the National Institute. There is a 

 vacancy in the Board of Regents, occasioned by the death of General 

 Totten, which needs to be filled, but it can not be tilled by the appoint- 

 ment of a resident of Washington and a member of this Institute, as 

 there are no longer any members of this Institute. The object of this 

 bill is to repeal that provision of the law which requires that two 

 Regents should be members of the National Institute. I hope the Sen- 

 ate will let the bill pass at once, as it is desirable to till that vacancy. 



There being no objection, the Senate, as in Committee of the Whole, 

 proceeded to consider the bill. 



Mr. J. COLLAMER. I do not know that 1 understand the gentleman 

 aright. Is it proposed to repeal that part of the law which requires 

 them to be inhabitants of Washington ? 



Mr. TRUMBUI.L. No, sir; not at all. I ask the Secretary to read the 

 bill again, so that the Senator from Vermont may see that it does not 

 repeal that part of the law requiring them to be residents of Wash- 

 ington. 



The Secretary read the bill : 



Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the "act to establish the Smithsonian Institution, 

 for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men," as requires that two of the 

 Regents of said Institution shall be members of the National Institute, in the city of 

 Washington, be, and the same is hereby, repealed. 



The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment and passed. 

 January 6, 1865 House. 



Mr. S. S. Cox. I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's 

 table Senate bill to repeal the provision of law requiring certain 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution to be members of the National 

 Institute. 



There being no objection, the bill was taken up, and was read a first 

 and second time. 



Mr. Cox. I may state that the object of this bill is to repeal that 

 provision of law which requires that two of the Regents of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution shall be members of the National Institute an 

 institution which is now obsolete. 



The bill was passed. 

 January 10, 1865. 



Be it enacted, etc., That so much of the act "To establish the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among 

 men," as requires that two of the Regents of said Institution shall be 

 members of the National Institute, in the city of Washington, be, and 

 the same is hereby, repealed. 



(Stat, XIII, 420.) 



