FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1061 
want to have anybody say, as this thing is expanding all the time, that 
I am nagging around Congress to get something for myself; I am will- 
ing to trust the future for all that sort of thing when my work is done.” 
That was the reply he made to me. I.talked with Mr. Randall about 
it once, and Mr. Randall said it ought to be done, but the professor was 
so reluctant to bring himself in, that, under the circumstances, we never 
did anything. I introduced a bill, and I want to turn that bill into an 
amendment. 
The CHarrMAN. You want to have whatever we do put on this bill? 
Mr. Epmunps. Yes; that is exactly what I want, and it is perfectly 
suitable and proper if it is right to do it at all, because it is not a pri- 
vate claim, but is a miscellaneous donation that under the circumstances 
it is proper for Congress to make, if you think so. 
Mr. Hatz. How much is the amount? 
Mr. Epmunps. Fifty thousand dollars, which is just about $1,500 a 
year, including the rent of all the rooms; and, according to the rates 
you are paying for other rents, if they had been hired by the United 
States you would have paid more than that for the rent of rooms for 
doing this business. I will just change the bill to an amendment, so 
as to read: 
To enable the Secretary of the Treasury to pay Mrs. Mary H.C. Baird, widow of 
the late Spencer F. Baird, the sum of $50,000, full compensation for the services and 
expenses of the said Spencer F. Baird during his administration of the office of Com- 
missioner of Fish and Fisheries, from February 25, 1871, to the time of his death, 
in August, 1887. 
That is the amendment I desire to have made. 
Mr. Brecx. You have Professor Langley’s letter? 
‘Mr. Epmunps. I have a copy of it here. 
The Cuarrman. We had better put that in the record. 
Mr. Brecx. I think so. It is a very full statement. 
Mr. Epmunps. It is an exact copy. 
The letter is as follows: 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
Washington, D. C., February 4, 1888. 
My Dear Sir: I have before me your letter asking for eserastiod in regard to 
the public services of the late Prof. Spencer F. Baird. It would have given me much 
pleasure to prepare a fuller statement than that which I now send od but I have 
here done what the time allowed. 
Professor Baird was appointed assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 
July 5, 1850, and on October 3, at the age of 27, he entered upon his life work in 
connection with that foundation for ‘‘the increase and diffusion of knowlege among 
men.’’ In May, 1878, after the death of Professor Henry, he was, by the unani- 
mous vote of the Regents of the Institution, elected secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution, a position which he held until his death, August 19, 1887. 
He was for thirty-seven years continuously in the scientific service of the Govern- 
ment. In connection with his duties as an officer of the Smithsonian Institution, his 
principal work was the development and care of the National Museum of the United 
