1286 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS 
interesting objects which are examined by the persons who go there, 
and he desired their purchase. I think I am not mistaken in making 
that assertion. The Senator from Indiana knows whether I am correct 
or not in that statement. 
Mr. VoorHeeEs. The Senator is correct about that. 
Mr. Hoar. When the present accomplished Secretary of the Smith- 
sonian Institution, who is not only one of the most distinguished and 
learned men in the country, but who has been a special student of the 
history of art, who is familiar with the history of the great works 
of art in the world, and who has been a special student in that most 
. delicate art matter of engraving, desires a small appropriation of this 
kind for an object of art to be preserved in his National Museum, 
and sets a price on it, I, for one, am willing to act upon his authority, 
and I do not think there is better authority in the country. 
The bill was reported to the Senate without amendment. 
Mr. J. Z. Georcr. Mr. President, in the absence of the Senator from 
Texas [Mr. Reagan], in order to guard the people against suck extrava- 
gant appropriations as this, I shall be compelled to put in my feeble 
protest against any such expenditure of the public money. I will not 
make any speech about it, for the reason that I can not get—let me 
see, what is the word/—I can not get the forgiveness of the Senator 
from Indiana |Mr. Voorhees] for making a mean speech in opposition 
to this bill by voting for it. My position is that I shall have to vote 
against it. 
Mr. Berry. Mr. President, I desire to say that while $14,000 is a 
small sum, it is an appropriation that ought not to be made. I fully 
agree with all the Senator from Indiana [Mr. Voorhees] so well said a 
few days ago in regard to the condition of the farmers of the country, 
and I furthernyore agree that this character of appropriation is not the 
kind that they approve, and I do not believe that it should be made by 
the Senate of the United States. 
It is practically admitted that these articles are not worth this sum 
of money and that the bill was originally introduced for a far less 
amount. The persons who own these works did not consider them 
worth $14,000, and yet the Senator from Indiana says he changed the 
amount on his own motion when the lady for whose benefit the appro- 
priation is to be made did not expect that amount. 
_ My. President, if it was our own money with which we were dealing 
we should have the right to take it and give it to this lady, to give her 
more than she asked, to give her more than it is admitted these articles 
are worth, and to give her more than they are valued’at, but I do not 
believe that I,as a Senator, here have the right to vote the people’s 
money in any such way, and therefore I am in earnest against this and 
all kindred appropriations. 
Mr. Vooruesgs. I am astonished at the inaccuracy of the Senator 
