‘ 
‘ 
pat oe - 
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS, 1895-1897. 1725 
sonian, facing on south B street and connecting the two wings, will 
be required to mark and illustrate the age. 
I ask that Senate bill 698, which is on the table, be now placed upon 
the Calendar. 
The PREsIDENT pro tempore. The bill will take its place on the Cal- 
endar. 
_ My.. G. F. Hoar. I ask unanimous consent that the bill concerning 
which the Senator from Vermont has addressed the Senate be put upon 
its passage at this time. I know it isa bill to which no Senator objects. 
Mr. Morritt. I prefer that an amendment of the same character 
shall be put on the sundry civil appropriation bill. 
Mr. Hoar. I thought the bill could be passed through the Senate 
and go to the other House. 
Mr. Morritu. I would rather keep the bill back for the present. 
April 25, 1896—Senate. 
Mr. GrorcE Gray. On page 33, after line 16, [of the sundry civil 
-bill] I move the amendment I send to the desk. 
The Vice-PreEsipEenT, (Mr. Apuat E. Stevenson). The amendment 
will be stated. ‘ 
The Secretary. On page 33, after line 16, it is proposed to insert: 
For an additional fireproof building for the use of the National Museum, 300 feet 
square, with two stories and a basement, to be erected under the direction of Ber- 
nard R. Green, with the approval of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, in 
harmony with the present National Museum building, on the southwestern portion 
of the grounds of the Smithsonian Institution, there shall be appropriated, out of any 
moneys in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, the sum of $250,000; said build- 
ing to be placed west of the Smithsonian Institution, leaving a roadway between it 
and the latter of not less than 50 feet, with its north front on a line with the south 
face of the Agricultural Department and of the Smithsonian Institution, and con- 
structed, as far as practicable, after proper advertisement, by contract or contracts 
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, and awarded to the lowest responsible 
bidder; and al] expenditures for the purpose herein mentioned shall be audited by 
the proper officers of the Treasury Department. 
Mr. Gray. I hope it may consist with the duty of the chairman of 
the Committee on Appropriations to accept this amendment. I will 
say that I offer it in place of the senior Senator from Vermont [Mr. 
Morrill], who is absent, and who requested that I should urge the 
passage of the amendment upon the committee and upon the Senate. 
Mr. O. H. Puart. Is it the amendment in favor of which the Sena- 
tor from Vermont made a speech recently 4 
Mr. Gray. Yes, sir. 
The Senator from Vermont is one of the Regents of the Smithso- 
nian Institution. I also have the honor to be one of that body, and I 
know something in that way of the necessities for the building pro- 
vided for in thisamendment. There is a large amount of exceedingly 
valuable scientific material which is housed there in temporary wooden 
sheds, exposed to the peril of conflagration, and which would entail if 
