680 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 



Mr. HOLMAN. Is not the interest upon that fund appro- 

 priated by Congress ? 



Mr. Cox. The expenditure of the interest upon the 

 Smithsonian fund is under the direction of the regents and 

 nobody else. Congress has nothing to do with it. All that 

 Congress gives is simply the small amount of $4,000 to aid 

 Smithson in his effort to diffuse useful knowledge among 

 xnen and women also. [Laughter.] I hope the motion 

 made by the gentleman from Indiana [Mr. Colfax] will, 

 however, prevail. I hope this amount may be cut down to 

 the extent of $1,000 to satisfy my economical friend on my 

 right, [Mr. Holman,] I hope a small reduction will be made 

 upon all these items to satisfy my friend from Indiana, and 

 I think we might spare $1,000 from this amount for that 

 purpose. 



Mr. STEVENS. I wish to ask the gentleman from Ohio 

 whether this is not the sum which has always been appro- 

 priated for this purpose, and whether that sum has not al- 

 ways been found necessary for the purpose of collecting and 

 distributing these collections ? 



Mr. Cox. I suppose the chairman of the Committee of 

 Ways and Means is perfectly familiar with these matters. 

 I cannot answer, not having yet been sworn in as regent. 

 [Laughter.] 



Mr. STEVENS. I rose to ask the question, supposing that 

 I had no right to answer it myself, when one of the regents 

 was present. [Laughter.] If the gentleman from "Ohio 

 will give me leave to answer, I will state that this sum has 

 always been appropriated, and the officers of the institution 

 report that it is necessary for these purposes. 



Mr. COLFAX. I withdraw my amendment. 



Mr. HOLMAN. I renew the amendment. Before the ques- 

 tion is taken on it, I desire to state that the sum of $30,000 

 is always appropriated in payment of the interest on this 

 Smithson fund, although the Government itself has never 

 received any benefit from the fund, and it is only equitably 

 liable -for the interest upon it. Out of that sum, as I have 

 stated, $6,500 is paid in the shape of salaries, and if my 

 memory serves me correctly, over $2,000 is placed under 

 the head of contingent expenses, although all proper ex- 

 penses seem to be covered by the various other items. 



Inasmuch, however, as the preservation of this museum 

 comes as much within the original intention of the donor 

 as any other purpose to which it is applied, and is the only 

 really popular feature of the institution, it seems to me that 

 it can properly be provided for out of the regular fund. 



