FIFTIETH CONGRESS, 1887-1889. 1065 
Edmunds]. I have carefully examined that statement, and find the 
facts to be about as follows: In February, 1871, there was an act of 
Congress passed providing that the President, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate, should appoint from the civil officers or 
employees of the Government a Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 
and it was especially and particularly provided in the act that he should 
receive no additional salary. It is stated in the report that Professor 
Baird at that time was assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion. He was appointed as such Commissioner. 
It is stated in this report that he was not an officer or employee of 
the Government at the time of this appointment, and therefore that 
the question of a double salary, which is prohibited by the statute, 
could not apply. If he was not an officer or an employee of the Gov- 
ernment, then he was appointed contrary to the provisions of the act 
of Congress, because the act specially provided that the Commissioner 
should be a civil officer or employee of the Government. It is stated 
in the report also that subsequently to that time additional duties were 
imposed upon the Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, and it is stated 
and I admit that Professor Baird performed the duties successfully 
and well for the period of about fifteen and a half years. 
At no time during his life did he ever apply for any salary for act- 
ing as Fish Commissioner. It is further stated in the report that he 
occupied and used two rooms in his private dwelling as an office for 
the purpose of discharging the duties pertaining to this commission; 
and it is also stated that a reasonable rental for those rooms, or, rather, 
if they were paid for as the Government usually pays for renting prop- 
erty in this city, they would have been worth probably $1,500 a year. 
The Senator from Vermont [Mr. Edmunds] says that this is not a 
private claim. I submit, Mr. President. that if Professor Baird hada 
claim against the Government for rent paid for the Government, then 
it should be presented as a claim, and it ought to go to the Committee 
on Claims, and there be reported to the Senate and take the usual 
course of any other claim. 
Mr. I. G. Harris. I wish to ask the Senator from Arkansas if his 
investigation has enabled him to inform the Senate what salary Pro- 
fessor Baird received as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; and 
if he is not able to answer, then I should be glad to have the chairman 
of the Committee on Appropriations or some other Senator give that 
information. 
Mr. Berry. I am able to answer that. He received a salary of 
$6,000 per annum as Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution; that 
was the sum he received in that capacity from the time of his appoint- 
ment in 1878 until his death in 1887. 
As I was stating, if this is a claim against the Government, either 
for salary or for house rent, then it ought to take the usual course of 
