the spontoons aud other nameless and obsolete implemeuts of war, 

 that were in vogue a hundred years ago, will be good for a hundred 

 years to come, and should not be abandoned. We must not revolu- 

 tionize merely for the sake of change; but we must wisely and in- 

 telligently adapt our policy to the progress of events; and I believe 

 it has been clearly shown that if the old rectangular system is con- 

 tinued it will be substantially worthless in its application to most of 

 our unsurveyed territory. 



Mr. KEIFER. It never was applied to them. 



Mr. GARFIELD. We do not want it to be. 



Mr. KEIFER. And it never will be. 



Mr. GARFIELD. But I am confining what I say to-day almost 

 exclusively to that clause of the bill which relates to the scientific 

 surveys. As regards the land surveys, I confess I have not studied 

 that subject so fully as some of the gentlemen around me. 



Mr. PAGE. May I ask the gentleman a question ? 



Mr. GARFIELD". Yes, sir. 



Mr. PAGE. I ask the gentleman from Ohio if he is not aware that 

 the amendment of which ho is now speaking is directly in violation 

 of, or changes, existing law, and makes an appropriation for an addi- 

 tional officer not now known to the law ; and whether he is in favor 

 of new legislation on an appropriation bill ? 



Mr. GARFIELD. I have said in the outset of my remarks that I 

 am opposed to that mode of legislation, and that I regretted for that 

 reason that this provision was here aud not in a bill by itself. My 

 record is too well known to leave any doubt on that subject. 



I say this: let us consolidate these scientific explorations and sur- 

 veys aud unite them under one head, and not scatter them as we have 

 <lone hitherto and waste money aud du])licate work and make the 

 name of science ridiculous in the United States, As to the other parts 

 of these sections, let us at least make an arrangement, if we do no 

 more, by which we shall have a full aud complete report upon the 

 whole subject, so that we may make these changes soon if not now. 



In this hurried way I have said nearly all I intended to say, except 

 to call attention to one other point. Besides going too far in scien- 

 tific explorations, we have greatly wronged the scientific publication 

 societies of this country. I suppose some gentlemen may not know 

 that there are twenty-seven voluntary scientific associations in this 

 country that publish their proceedings, besides five or six journals 

 specially devoted to publishing discoveries of science. 



These are a part of the means by which discoveries in science can 

 find their way to the public through the press ; and yet we are print- 

 ing thousands of volumes in competition with the private associa- 

 tions of the country, and thereby injuring and crippling them. T 

 believe we ought simply to confine ourselves to our own business and 

 not needlessly travel into their field. Without very much reflection 

 and in a manner quite unsatisfactory to myself, I have offered these 

 suggestions. If I have stimulated any one to do the subject better 

 justice, I shall not altogether have failed of my purpose. 



I now yield ten minutes of my time to my friend from Kansas, [Mr. 

 Haskell.] 



