THIRTY-NINTH CONGRESS, 1865-1867. 661 



Mr. HOWE. ' Then I move that the Senate proceed to the considera- 

 tion of Senate bill 216. 



Agreed to; and the bill (S. 216) to provide for the transfer of the 

 custody of the library of the Smithsonian Institution to the Library 

 of Congress was considered as in Committee of the Whole. 



Mr. HOWE. I move to amend the bill in section 2, line 6, by insert- 

 ing the words " in the recess of Congress " after the word " year," so 

 that it will read: 



That when such library shall have been so removed and deposited, the Smithsonian 

 Institution shall have the use thereof in like manner as it is now used, and the public 

 shall have access thereto for purposes of consultation on every ordinary week day, 

 except during one month of each year in the recess of Congress, when it may be closed 

 for renovation. 



Agreed to. 



Mr. T. A. HENDEICKS. I wish to ask the Senator from Wisconsin 

 whether this bill contemplates the permanent transfer of these books to 

 the Congressional Library? These books belong to the Smithsonian 

 trust fund, which I think ought not to be diverted. 



Mr. HOWE. The Senator will see, if he looks over the* bill, that it 

 does not transfer the title of the books. It is the custody of the books 

 that is transferred to the Congressional Library for safe-keeping, as 

 well as for the better accommodation of the public. 



Mr. LYMAN TRUMBUIX. 1 will state to the Senator from Indiana that 

 this is a mutual arrangement entered into between the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution and the Committee on the Library , satisfactory 

 to both parties. It is thought to be safer to have them deposited there. 

 There is danger of them at present, as the building in which they are 

 is not fireproof. 



The bill was reported to the Senate as amended, and the amendment 

 concurred in. 



Passed. 

 April 2, 1866 -House. 



On motion of Mr. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES, by unanimous consent, 

 Senate bill to provide for the transfer of the custody of the library of 

 the Smithsonian Institution to the Library of Congress was taken from 

 the Speaker's table and read a first and second time. 



Mr. R. B. HAYES. The Committee on the Library recommend the 

 passage of the bill. 



Passed. 



April 5, 1866. 



Be it enacted, etc., That the library collected by the Smithsonian 

 Institution under the provisions of an act approved, August 10, 1846, 

 shall be removed from the building of said Institution, with the con- 

 sent of the Regents thereof, to the new fireproof extension of the 

 Librarv of Congress, upon completion of a sufficient portion thereof 



