608 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



researches, and direct the publications. Let the librarian- 

 have charge of the library and museum. If the two depart- 

 ments are thus separated^ and placed under the control of 

 well-devised and clearly defined regulations, never interfer- 

 ing with each other, but working freely and harmoniously 

 in their respective spheres, each principal responsible only 

 for his own province, and subject alike to a common head, 

 whether the Secretary of the Interior or a Board of Regents, 

 the institution would, we think, be found to work most 

 auspiciously, and produce the best and greatest results. 



Mr. WM. H. WITTE, of Penn., from the Select Commit tee, 

 made the following report : 



The Select Committee, to whom was referred the letter of 

 the Hon. Rufus Choate, resigning the office of regent of 

 the Smithsonian Institution, also the resolution thereon 

 to inquire whether the Smithsonian Institution bus been 

 managed and its funds expended in accordance with t lie- 

 law establishing it, and whether any additional legisla- 

 tion be necessary to carry out the design of its founders, 

 report 



[Mr. NATH. G. TAYLOR, of Tenn., coiieurring: and Mr. 

 RICHARD C. PURYEAR, of North Carolina, and Mr. DAN- 

 IEL WELLS, of Wisconsin, although not dissenting from 

 all the views, preferred not to sign either this report or 

 the report made by Mr. Upharn alone.] 



That they have made a patient examination of the insti- 

 tution, and have concluded that there is no just cause of 

 complaint against the regents or the secretary, in regard to 

 the construction of the act of Congress establishing the in- 

 stitution, and the plan of organization adopted by tbe 

 regents, or the manner in which its affairs have been ad- 

 ministered. The subjects included in the resolution may- 

 be appropriately arranged under the following heads : 



1. The proper construction of the act of Congress estab- 

 lishing the institution. 



2. The plan of organizing and administering the affairs of 

 the institution adopted by the regents in pursuance of the 

 law. 



3. The question whether any new legislation is necessary. 



4. The administration of this plan by the regents and 

 secretary. 



