FORTY-FIFTH CONGRESS, 1877-1879. 787 



an item introduced into the deficiency bill whereby the Smithson fund 

 may be reimbursed for this outlay. 



Expenditures incurred by the Smitlisonian Institution for the protection of the United States 

 Government collections'; 1877-78. 



Brick and laying $635. 60 



Hose - 325. 75 



Cement, lime, sand 83. 74 



Hardware, lumber, and labor 298. 25 



Plumbing 452. 95 



Fireproof iron doors, 530 square feet, at $1.90 1, 007. 00 



2, 803. 29 

 June 5, 1878 Senate. 



Mr. H. L. DAWES, from the Committee on Public Buildings and 

 Grounds, reported a bill (S. 1367) to aid in the protection of the 

 public buildings and property against loss and damage by fire: 



Be it enacted, etc. , That a commission, composed of the Commissioner of Patents, 

 the Supervising Architect of the Treasury Department, and the Secretary of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, is hereby constituted and authorized to examine such auto- 

 matic signal- telegraph systems as may be ^submitted to them by the owners and 

 agents thereof, and to ascertain which of the same is best adapted for the purpose of 

 the earliest and most certain transmission by signal of the occurrence of fire; and 

 also the adaptability, usefulness, and need of the same for the further protection of 

 the buildings and property of the Government in the several Departments in Wash- 

 ington, and to report the results of their examination to the next session of Con- 



Placed on the Calendar. 

 June 11, 1878 Senate. 



Mr. AMBROSE E. BURNSIDE proposed to take up S. 1367, for the 

 purpose of testing the fire signals in the different Departments. 



""It authorizes the Supervising Architect of the Treasury 

 and the Superintendent of the Smithsonian Institution as a commis- 

 sion to experiment on these fire signals. It is a thing in which we are 

 all concerned, for it is a matter that relates to the public buildings and 

 the public property. I am sure there will be no objection to the 

 measure. Not a penny of money will be expended by it. I think it 

 will be right for the Senate to take it up and pass it, in order that the 

 commission may sit during the recess of Congress." 



The motion was not entertained. 

 June 13, 1878 Senate. 



Passed. 

 June 19, 1878 House. 



Mr. E. J. ELLIS. 1 ask unanimous consent to have taken up and 

 passed a bill of great public interest (S. 1367), to aid in the protection 

 of public buildings and other property against loss and damage by 

 fire. This bill has been unanimously passed by the Senate, and 

 reported unanimously from the appropriate committee of this House. 



