1520 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
Mr. W.B. Auuison. Mr. President, this is an amendment proposed by 
the Committee on Appropriations, sent to them by the Committee on 
Finance, as a recognition of the very eminent services of the late 
Joseph Henry, to be given to his daughters. The amendment was 
suggested at $20,000, but the committee have reported $10,000. I 
hope there will be no objection to the amendment. 
Mr. Berry. If the Government owes Mr. Henry anything for his 
services rendered, if he was not paid his salary, or anything of that 
character, I should be glad to know it. If this is a mere gift—— 
Mr. J.C. 8. Buracksurn. Will the Senator from Arkansas allow me? 
Mr. Berry. Certainly. 
Mr. Biackrurn. I will state that when Professor Baird died, who 
had held this same position as Regent [Secretary] of the Smithsonian 
Institution, my recollection is that there was $50,000 [$25,000] voted 
to him. No one objected. 
Mr. Berry. I beg the Senator’s pardon. It is a very great mistake 
to suppose that no one objected. 
Mr. Buackgpurn. The Senator from Arkansas may have objected. 
I do not recall the objection, but I remember what Congress ‘did. 
This man whom we have honored with a statue in a park here in the 
city rendered very distinguished services. He was recognized as the 
most distinguished scientist that we had on this continent. He died 
receiving no salary for the services he had rendered when presiding 
over the Smithsonian Institution, because the law at that time allowed 
no salary. 
The committee thought it was but proper to make some recognition 
to a very worthy and very indigent family. The Senator from Arkan- 
sas is right if he makes the point that the law does not warrant this 
appropriation. It is not offered from that standpoint. It is offered 
to the Senate in the belief that it is a proper thing for us to do. Itis 
a mere gratuity, and the Senator is informed that no law warrants it. 
It is simply a gratuitous offering from the Congress of the United 
States to the surviving children of a man who was very prominent in 
the eminent services he had rendered to the country. There is no law 
for it. 
Mr. G. F. Hoar. The Senator from Kentucky, I suppose, uses the 
word ‘‘ gratuity” as derived from ‘‘ gratitude.” 
Mr. Buacksurn. Ido. I mean it so. 
Mr. Berry. Mr. President, when the claim of the wife of Professor 
Baird was before the Senate it was discussed at considerable length. 
It was opposed very strongly, and only passed upon a yea-and-nay 
vote after quite a discussion, as I distinctly remember. 
The Senator from Kentucky states that the Government of the 
United States was not indebted to Mr. Henry; that there is no law 
authorizing the payment of this sum of money; that the Government 
