1014 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



paid directly by the disbursing agent of tho Department of the Interior. 

 (See Report of Exec. Cora, of Regents, Journal, p. 569.) 



The National Museum is mentioned in the acts of Congress of March 

 3, 1875, July 31, 1876, and subsequently, and a building has been 

 erected at the expense of the Government expressly for its accommo- 

 dation. 



When the Government collections were transferred from the Patent 

 Office to. the Smithsonian Institution, the same officials and employees 

 were retained, the curator, John Varden, continuing on the pay roll 

 until his death, in 1865, and another a laborer still being in the serv- 

 ice of the Museum. 



Other officers have from time to time been appointed under the 

 seventh section of the act organizing the Smithsonian Institution, which 

 directs that the " Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution shall dis- 

 charge the duties of keeper of the Museum and may, with the consent 

 of the Board of Regents, employ assistants." 



The vouchers and pay rolls are examined and approved quarterly by 

 the executive committee of the Board of Regents and are paid by the 

 disbursing clerk of the Department of the Interior, as sent to him b^y 

 the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with his indorsement as 

 to correctness, etc. 



Respectfully submitted. 



WM. J. RHEES, 

 Chief ClerJf, Smithsonian Institution. 



Prof. S. F. BAIRD, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM SUNDAY OPENING. 



April 12, 1886 House. 



Mr. ZACHARY TAYLOR (by request) introduced a joint resolution 

 (H. 158): 



That the officers of the United States in charge of the national museums and insti- 

 tutes of the United States shall be required to keep said public buildings open on 

 Sundays for as many hours as on week days; and that the heads of the Departments 

 having control of said buildings may employ additional employees for that purpose. 



Referred to Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds. 



NATIONAL MUSEUM SECTION OF TRANSPORTATION. 

 May 24, 1886 House. 



Mr. WILLIAM G. STAHLNECKER presented the petition of Charles 

 Schiff, vice-president of the Alabama Great Southern Railroad, and 

 many others, for an appropriation to carry out the plans recently 

 adopted for the organization of the section of steam transportation in 

 the United States National Museum. 



