1028 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Should your committee desire any further information with regard to this measure, 

 I shall be happy to furnish the same in writing, or orally through an assistant fully 

 informed upon the subject. 



I have the honor to be, very truly, yours, 



S. F. BAIRD, Secretary. 

 Hon. WILLIAM M. SPRINGER, 



Chairman Committee on Claims, House of Representatives. 



Refund of duty to Semon Bache & Co. 



To refund the duty paid by Semon Bache & Co., of New York, upon glass from 

 imported stock furnished to the National Museum, and the New Orleans, Louisville, 

 and Cincinnati Expositions, for exhibition cases (submitted), $3,562.56. 



NOTE. In explanation I would state that, from time to time, for several years 

 past, the Treasury Department has, at the request of the Smithsonian Institution, 

 granted free permits for importations of glass to offset the duty paid on that fur- 

 nished from stock to the National Museum, and the New Orleans, Cincinnati, and 

 Louisville Expositions, by the firm in question; but in the summer of 1884 an order 

 was issued by the Treasury Department declining to grant further permits unless the 

 glass came directly through the custom-house to this city, this, order proving retro- 

 active with regard to Messrs. Bache & Co. The amount of duties now asked to be 

 refunded we have found to be correct, and covers the entire liability of the Govern- 

 ment on this account to the firm mentioned, to the present date. 



For the reasons stated in this letter, and in view of the recommen- 

 dation of the Secretary of the Treasury for its allowance, your com- 

 mittee are of the opinion that the accompanying bill should pass. 



Committed to Committee of the Whole. 



July 20, 1886 Senate. 



The next amendment to the sundry civil bill for 1887 (H. 9478) was 

 in line 1672, after the word " Museum," to strike out the word 

 "building," so as to make the clause read: 



Heating and lighting the National Museum: For expense of heating, lighting, and 

 electrical and telephonic service for the National Museum, $11,000. 



The amendment was agreed to. 



Mr. WILLIAM J. SEWELL. Is this the appropriate time to all for an 

 explanation in relation to the expenditures for the National Museum, 

 as connected with the Smithsonian Institution ? I have yet to know 

 under what committee of the Senate these expenditures are arranged. 

 I ask the chairman of the Committee on Appropriations whether any 

 committee of the Senate has any jurisdiction over these expenditures? 

 Here is a large appropriation of $106,500: 



For the preservation, exhibition, and increase of the collections received from the 

 surveying and exploring expeditions of the Government, and from other sources, 

 including salaries or compensation of all necessary employees. 



Mr. WILLIAM B. ALLISON. I do not know that any special committee 

 has charge of these expenditures, unless it be the Committee on Appro- 

 priations. They are very carefully estimated for in the Book of Esti- 

 mates. 



