be Seovae CONGRESS.ONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
The Speaker. At any time that the gentleman will show that this 
is a question of privilege the Chair will do his best to entertain the 
gentleman’s motion. 
Mr. Entor. I want to give a little attention to the matter which I 
attempted to bring before the House this morning. I introduced a 
resolution some time in the early part of the month, calling upon the 
Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for certain information in 
regard to the management of the Zoological Park. Congress at its 
last session appropriated the sum of $92,000 for the organization, 
maintenance, and improvement of the National Zoological Park, and I 
find, according to the precedents that have been established, and 
I believe under the terms of the act, it was necessary and proper that 
the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution should assume that trust 
and devise ways and means to execute it, or vest the authority some 
where to use the appropriation in accordance with the direction of 
Congress. Iam informed that the Board of Regents have not had a 
meeting since the passage of that act; that it has never assumed the 
trust; that the money appropriated has not so far been expended by 
due authority of law. I think it is clear that no one had the right to 
draw one dollar of the money from the Treasury and expend it with- 
out the direction of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institu- 
tion. 
Mr. 8S. L. Minurken. Let me ask the gentleman who has drawn the 
money and expended it? 
Mr. Entor. I answer the gentleman’s question by saying I under- 
‘stand that Mr. Langley, the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, 
has drawn the money and has expended it as he saw proper in the 
improvement of the park. 
Mr. MitxrKken. One other question for information. How could he 
do that if there has been no authorization by law for it to be done in 
that way 4 
Mr. Entor. I will call the gentleman’s attention torthe language of 
the act appropriating this money, and also to a precedent which I 
. think covers the case exactly. Section 2, of the act approved April 
30, for the organization and ‘maintenance of the National Zoological 
Park, provided that the ‘‘ said park is hereby placed under the direc- 
tion of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who are authorized 
to transfer to itany living specimens, whether of animals or plants, now 
or hereafter in their charge, to accept gifts for the park at their dis 
cretion in the name of the United States, and to make exchange of 
specimens, and to administer the said Zoological park for the advance- 
ment of science and the instruction and recreation of the people.” 
Now, I find that in 1879 when Congress passed an act providing for 
the establishment of the National Museum it was provided that a fire- 
proof building should be erected for the use of the National Museum 
