. FIFTY-FIRST CONGRESS, 1889-1891. 1279 
BUREAU OF FINE ARTS. 
December 4, 1889—Senate. 
Mr. W. Catt introduced bill (S. 39): 
That there be, and is hereby, created in the Smithsonian Institution a Bureau called 
the Bureau of the Fine Arts, the management of which isintrusted to the Secretary of 
the Smithsonian Institution. 
Sxc. 2. That the purpose and duties of this Bureau shall be to aid in the development 
of the fine arts in the several States and Territories of the United States by the repro- 
duction, for the use of art schools and academies, of casts of statuary and other objects 
used in giving instruction in art; by preparing and distributing plans for the construc- 
tion of buildings and the adaptation of rooms suitable for use as art schools, with 
printed plans for the organization of various grades of art academies and classes; by 
causing to be held annually, in Washington, District of Columbia, a public exhibition 
of works of art, open to all desiring to exhibit, in which the fairest possible oppor- 
tunity for exposition shall be afforded all contributors; and by the publication of an 
annual register containing an account of new discoveries, inventions, and methods of 
instruction useful to students of art, together with a report of the progress of the fine 
arts in the United States. 
Src. 3. That the reproductions and publications of the Bureau shall be distributed 
among institutions of art, under such regulations as the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution may establish. 
Src. 4. That the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution shall provide suitable 
quarters for the holding of the annual art exhibition. 
Src. 5. That for the purpose of carrying on the operations of this Bureau there be, 
and is hereby, appropriated, for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 188 , the sum of 
$———, to be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury out of any moneys in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, and expended under the direction of the Secretary of the 
Smithsonian Institution. 
Referred to Committee on the Library. 
VAIL ORIGINAL TELEGRAPHIC RECEIVER. 
December 4, *889—Senate. 
Mr. J. R. McPuerson introduced bill (S. 256): 
Whereas Stephen Vail, of Morristown, New Jersey, has in his possession the orig- 
inal telegraphic instrument or recording receiver, invented by his father, Alfred Vail, 
used upon the first telegraphic line ever constructed (that between Washington and 
Baltimore), and to transmit the first message ever sent, ‘‘What hath God wrought”’ 
and 
Whereas Mr. Vail has in his possession abundant and satisfactory proof of its 
authenticity, and the proposed disposition of it is strongly recommended by the offi- 
cers of the Smithsonian Institution (where it is now on exhibition) : Therefore, 
Be it enacted, etc., That the sum of $10,000 be, and the same is hereby, appropri- 
ated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase 
of said telegraph instrument or recording receiver, upon the production of such evi- 
dence of its authenticity as shall be satisfactory to the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution. 
Referred to Committee on the Library. 
CAPRON JAPANESE COLLECTION. 
December 4, 1889—Senate. 
Mr. D. W. VoorHers introduced bill (S. 321): 
That the sum of $14,675 be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any 
money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the purchase of ‘‘the Capron 
