1074 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
“in the prime of life, when he was at his best in body and intellect. 
He received from that fund a moderate'salary, a salary probably nota 
tenth part of what he could have commanded by giving his scientific 
attainments to the service of manufacturing or railroad or other busi- 
ness interests. He was one of the great men of his day. Being paid 
for his services to science, not by salary, but by simply having ren- 
dered them, that account was made up. But in addition to one man’s 
work he did voluntarily and without compensation in the service of this 
people the full work of two men more. He originated, organized, 
administered the great National Museum, and he rendered in that a 
service which as business men pay business agents would not have been 
half compensated by any salary like that which he was receiving as 
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. 
In addition to that he originated and executed experiments and sci- 
entific work, the result of which by the common consent of all men 
conversant with the subject is to be that it will be much easier not only 
to supply the present generation of Americans with healthful, abund- 
ant, and cheap food, but he has shown us how to support and feed the 
hundreds of millions who are to come to this continent from all parts 
of the world and who are to be born here for generations upon ger 
erations to come. That wasa gratuity. That was the greatest bene- 
faction, with very few exceptions if with any exception, which God. 
has given it to any human being in our day to render to his kind. 
I wish I could have the attention of the Senate fora moment. I think 
I have something to say which is worth while for my honorable friends 
to hear, if they will do me the great favor to listen. I say that this 
man in devising and executing successfully these experiments has 
not only furnished our generation with cheap and abundant food, but 
has made it possible hereafter, in all probability, unless the judgment 
of scientific men is mistaken, to feed amply and cheaply the hundreds 
upon hundreds of millions who are to people this continent in no remote 
future. 
In rendering that benefit to us and to future time this man sacrificed 
his life. After a full day’s work in his other office he devoted without 
vacation, without rest, without pause, spring, summer, autumn, and 
winter, the year through, every hour, every minute, every second 
which he could snatch from his sleep. In rendering that service the 
strong, vigorous brain and body broke down. Professor Baird gave 
his life in rendering this service to mankind in the very prime and 
glory of his great intellect and his great physical frame just as certainly 
as any soldier ever gave his life on the field of battle. 
Mr. President, I do not believe that the American people have such 
a constitution of government that there is‘nobody authorized so far to 
express the gratitude of the American people for that illustrious sery- 
ice as to make a decent provision for the widow that shall not come 
