306 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



and eighty, fifty thousand dollars : Provided, That the construction of no building 

 shall be commenced except an observatory proper, with necessary offices for 

 observers and computers." 154 



The new observatory was completed in 1893. 



While the committee recognized the importance of a suit- 

 able site, and adequate equipment and buildings, it was far more 

 concerned regarding the organization of the observatory. The 

 main body of its report relates to this subject. It argued 

 that while astronomers who were naval officers, and especially 

 James M. Gilliss and Charles H. Davis (both members of the 

 Academy) had contributed to the reputation of the Observatory, 

 as an important scientific establishment, that reputation was 

 derived mainly from the labors of its civilian professors, Walker, 

 Ferguson, Hall, Holden, Newcomb and others. It, therefore, 

 recommended that the Observatory be reorganized under a 

 civilian administration, and that its name be changed from 

 United States Naval Observatory to the National Observatory 

 of the United States, which latter designation it bore at a certain 

 early period in its history. 155 



COMMITTEE ON THE TARIFF CLASSIFICATION 

 OF WOOLS. 1885 



In the various tariff laws enacted by Congress in the course 

 of the last forty years, different rates of duties are imposed for 

 wool in the natural condition of the fleece, and for wool that has 

 been washed or scoured. Washing is defined as cleansing the 

 fleece while still on the sheep's back by washing it in cold water, 

 while scouring is defined as a more effective cleansing of the 

 wool by means of hot water, or alkalies and other chemicals. 

 The rate for washed wool is twice, and that for scoured wool 

 three times the rate for wool in the natural condition. For 

 some time the appraisers appear to have overlooked the distinc- 

 tion and much wool was admitted at a less rate than it should 



154 Stat. at Large, vol. 24, p. 156, 49th Congress, ist Session, chap. 781, 1886. 



155 The report of the committee constitutes Sen. Exec. Doc., no. 67, 49th Congr., ist Sess. 

 Ordered printed Feb. 10, 1886. See also Sen. Exec. Doc. no. 78, 48th Congr. 2d Sess. 1885. 



