1700 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
NationaL Museum, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 
Washington, D. C., February 6, 1895. 
Srr: In response to your letter of January 24, asking for a statement of the condi- 
tion of business in the National Museum, and whether any part of the same is in 
arrears, I have the honor to say that all current work is and always has been kept 
promptly up to date, and that in no department can it be said that the work is in 
arrears, although to accomplish this result it has been necessary to ask many of the 
employees to work extra hours without compensation. I am speaking, of course, 
of the routine work of the Museum, which corresponds to the ordinary work of the 
Executive Departments. 
The work of the scientific staff, “which i is engaged ‘n ihe development of the Mu- 
seum and in the utilization of its treasures for public instruction and for the advantage 
of educational institutions throughout the country, is not going ahead so rapidly as 
might be desired, owing to the fact that the reduction in the appropriations in 1893 
made it necessary to considerably reduce the number of persons employed in this 
work, and also to the interruption caused by preparations for the great exposition 
at Chicago. It is going forward satisfactorily, however, though much more could be 
done if it were possible to employ a larger number of expert assistants. Help of 
this kind is especially needed to carry on more rapidly the separation of the dupli- 
cate specimens from the collections, and their identification and classification for the 
purpose of distributing them to public institutions in accordance with the authority 
granted by law, and also for purposes of exchange with museums in other countries. 
I am, sir, yours, very respectfully, 
8. P. Lanaxry, Secretary. 
Hon. ALEXANDER M. Dockery, 
Chairman Joint Commission, etc., House of Representatives. 
BONDS OF DISBURSING OFFICERS. 
February 28, 1895—Senate. 
Mr. F. M. Cockrety, from Joint Commission of Congress to inquire 
into the status of laws organizing the Executive Departments, sub- 
mitted report (S. 1022) relative to the bonds of public oflicers. 
* * * * * * 
* 
Within the jurisdiction of Auditor for State and other Departments: 
One bonded officer, Smithsonian Institution, $25,000. (Under law 176, 3614 Rey. 
Stat.) 
Special disbursing agent, Smithsonian Institution, $5,000. (Under law 176, 3614 
Rey. Stat.) 
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1895-1897. 
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES—ESTIMATES. 
December 2, 1895—House. 
Estimates for 1897. 
For the expenses of the system of international exchanges between 
the United States and foreign countries, under the direction of the 
Smithsonian Institution, including salaries or compensation of all nec- 
essary employees, $23,000. 
