1622 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
by the Geographical and Geological Survey of the Rocky Mountain Region, shall be 
turned over to the Smithsonian Institution, that the work may be completed and 
prepared for publication under its direction: Provided, That it shall meet the 
approval of the Secretary of the Interior and of the Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution. 
Mr. Hortman. Mr. Chairman, for some time the appropriation was 
$20,000. From the year 1885 down to the present time, as has already 
been remarked, it has been $40,000, and was increased to $50,000 for 
the current year, for the reason given by the gentleman from Texas 
[Mr. Sayers]. I think the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. Moses] is 
mistaken in one thing at least. This is really a very valuable work. 
It is one of those things that may he postponed temporarily; but the 
material-has been gathered together. The work has extended beyond 
the original purpose, as is manifest from the reading of the paragraph 
which has been read, but it has always been a valuable and instructive 
work. 
Every successive volume has been, if possible, still more interesting 
and valuable than its predecessors. I think the work is coming to a 
close. I doubt whether any further appropriation will be required, 
although I am not certain as to that, for I have not talked with Major 
Powell upon the subject. But at an early period this work will be 
completed, and I think the Committee on Appropriations have acted 
with entire fairness and good judgment in proposing an appropriation 
of $35,000 for this work. 
Mr. Moses. Will the gentleman yield for a question ? 
Mr. Hotman. Certainly. 
Mr. Mosss. I understood the gentleman to say that this is one of 
those appropriations that may be postponed. Does not the gentleman 
believe it to be the duty of this House, in view of the situation of the 
finances of the Government, to postpone everything that can be post- 
poned ¢ 
Mr. Hotman. Well, I think that works of actual value ought to be 
continued in a fair degree. I think there ought to be a reduction all 
along the line, and the Committee on Appropriations have indicated 
that by this reduction of $15,000. 
Mr. Moses. Does the gentleman not believe, further, that the Com- 
mittee on Appropriations have cut down the appropriations for things 
which the people desire more than they do the work of this Bureau? 
For instance, for opening up the public lands in the West. 
Mr. Hortman. I can not say as to that. I think this is almost as 
valuable as the surveys of the public lands, especially when we remem- 
ber the fact that there are already 129,000,000 acres of land surveyed 
and undisposed of, sufficient in area to form seven or eight States. 
Mr. Hooxer of Mississippi. ‘Mr. Chairman, I am glad I have evoked 
from the Committee on Appropriations some explanation and appro- 
EE ——— 
