736 CONGKESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



rial of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, and beg- permission 

 briefly to explain its import. 



It sets forth that many foreign nations, states, and individuals, by 

 whom articles were sent to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia, 

 have made noble and valuable gifts to the Government of the United 

 States of objects of art, of firearms, of mineral and agricultural 

 products, and of artistic and mechanic skill. It may not be disputed 

 that the acceptance of them by the Government imposes an obligation 

 that they shall be preserved and exhibited for the gratification and 

 instruction of the people. Their preservation and exhibition must be 

 confided to the National Museum, of which by law the Regents of the 

 Smithsonian Institution have the custody. They have presented for 

 our consideration the necessity for erecting a suitable building for the 

 purposes 1 have indicated, giving an estimate of its -probable cost. I 

 do not ask that the memorial be printed in the Record, as one of like 

 import was presented to the Senate, which will be found in its pro- 

 ceedings of yesterday. I therefore ask its reference to the Committee 

 on Public Buildings and Grounds, and that the accompanying list, set- 

 ting forth the name of the donors and the character of them, be 

 printed in the Record for the information of the House and the 

 country. 



Mr. CASEY YOUNG. I will say to the gentleman from Pennsylvania 

 that there is already a bill pending before the Committee on Public 

 Buildings and Grounds, on which a favorable report has been pre- 

 pared, and we only wait a meeting of the committee to order it to be 

 reported. 



Mr. CLYMER. I am delighted to have that information. But it can 

 do the committee no harm to have the memorial referred to it. 



The SPEAKER. The gentleman from Pennsylvania asks unanimous 

 consent to present a memorial of the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and to have the same referred to the Committee on Public 

 Buildings and Grounds, not to be brought back on a motion to recon- 

 sider. Is there objection? 



Mr. CLYMER. I also ask that the list attached to the memorial be 

 printed in the Record. 



Mr. WASHINGTON TOWNSENU, of Pennsylvania. I ask that the 

 memorial itself be printed in the Record. 



Mr. CLYMER. With the accompanying list. 



There was no objection; and the memorial was referred to the 

 Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered, with the 

 accompanying list, to be printed in the Record. 

 February 14, 1877 Senate. 



Mr. J. S. MORRILL, from the Committee on Public Buildings and 

 Grounds, reported a bill (S. 1252) for the erection of a fireproof 

 building for the National Museum; which was read by its title. 



