CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



PROCEEDINGS IN THE SENATE. 



SENATE, February 10, 1841. 



Agreeably to notice, Mr. Linn asked and obtained leave 



to bring in a bill (S. 245) to appoint trustees for tbc invest- 



ment of the Smithsonian fund ; which was read the first and 



.second times, by unanimous consent, and referred to the 



Committee on the Library. 



The bill is as follows : 



[S. No. 245.] 

 A BILL to appoint Trustees for the investment of the Smithsonian fund. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of tin- rutted 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That the Secretari.- ,,i' the State, 

 the Treasury, the .War, and the Navy Departments, the Attorney General, 

 and the Postmaster General, be, and 'they are hereby, constituted trustees 

 of the Smithsonian fund, with power to invest the same in salt- public funds, 

 and to change said investment when, in their judgment, it may be desir- 

 able : Provided, however, That said trustees shall, under no circumstance*, 

 diminish or expend the principal of said fund ; but that all expenses of in- 

 vestments of said fund, or for other purposes, as provided ly law, shall be. 

 paid out of the interest which has accrued, or which may accrue, from said 

 fund. 



SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That said trustees shall have power to 

 appoint a treasurer and secretary to the board of trustees, who shall give 

 bond in the penal sum of dollars for the faithful performance \' 



his duties, and shall be removable from office at the pleasure of the hoard 

 of trustees, and shall bo entitled to receive a compensation lor his services 

 not exceeding dollars per annum. The said treasurer and secre- 



tary shall perform his duties under the direction of the board of trustees, 

 and shall render his accounts <]uarterly to the Treasury Department The 

 proceedings of said board shall be reported annually to Congress ; and 

 their transactions, books, and papers, shall be open to >udi investigations, 

 and the board shall answer such inquiries, in relation to their official action, 

 as Congress, or a resolution of either House, shall from time to time direct. 



SEC. 3. And be it further enacted. That the Smithsonian Institution shall 

 consist of one superintendent, who shall receive a compensation of 

 dollars per annum, and six prolcssors, each of whom shall receive a com- 

 pensation of dollars per annum. The foregoing named officers 



to be appointed in the following manner : the National Institution for the 

 promotion of science, established in the city of "Washington, shall nominate; 

 said officers to the President, to be, if approved by him, submitted to tha 

 Senate for its advice and consent. The said superintendent and professors 

 shall hold their offices during the term of four years, and perform such 

 duties as shall be designated by the said National Institution. The said 

 institution shall also prescribe the duties of such officers, as it may lind 

 necessary to appoint, for the preservation of the buildings, grounds, and 

 other property belonging to the institution : Provided, ^however, That no 

 greater number of such officers shall be appointed, than shall be approved 

 by the President of the United States, and at no higher compensations, 

 than he shall approve: And provided, a/so, That all contingent expenses 

 necessary in the execution of the duties of said officers, shall be approved by 

 the Secretary of State, and the President of the aforesaid National Insti- 

 tution. 



