1770 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
tific publications of the United States. He recognizes the propriety 
also of the suggestion that this Government should employ the Smith- 
sonian Institution as an agent in the matter, but points out that the 
work if assigned to the Smithsonian would require a person of special 
qualifications to immediately assist the Secretary, together with a num- 
ber of trained clerical assistants, and that the salaries of these persons, 
and the expense incident to the work, would require an appropriation 
of not less than $10,000 per annum. I inclosea copy of Professor 
Langley’s letter on the subject. 
The most efficient means for the purpose would seem to be a joint 
resolution of both Houses of Congress, and I have the honor to suggest 
the inclosed draft as embodying Professor Langley’s views. 
I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant, 
RIcHARD OLNEY. 
Hon. THomas B. REEp,,. 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Resolved, etc., That for the purpose of carrying out on the part of the United 
States the recommendation of the International Conference on a Catalogue of Scientific 
Literature held in London, in July, 1896, the sum of $10,000, or so much thereof as may 
be necessary, be, and the same is hereby, appropriated, out of any money in the Treas- 
ury not otherwise appropriated, for the expense of clerk hire and the other expenses 
incident to the work of cataloguing the scientific publications of the United States, 
the same to be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian ~ 
Institution. 
Wasuineton, D. C., October 15, 1896. 
Str: The undersigned having been appointed by the honorable the 
Secretary of State delegates to the International Conference on a Cata- 
logue of Scientific Literature, held in London in July last by request 
of the Royal Society, and having performed the duty thus devolving 
upon them, have the honor to submit the following report on the 
subject: 
The object of the conference was to reach an international agree- 
ment as to the steps necessary to the preparation, editing, and con- 
tinuous publication of a catalogue of the current scientific literature 
of all countries. The need of such a catalogue has been felt from the 
time that the volume of published scientific researches began to assume 
its present colossal proportions. About 1860 the Royal Society under- 
took to supply this need by the preparation of a general catalogue of 
scientific papers. The first volume of this work appeared in 1867. 
In the preface it is stated that the undertaking originated in a com- 
munication from Dr. Joseph Henry, Secretary of the Smithsonian 
Institution, to the meeting of the British association at Glasgow in 
1855, suggesting the formation of a catalogue of philosophical memoirs. 
This work has been completed by the Royal Society up to the year 
1883. In the meantime, owing to the constant increase of the volume 
of published researches, the task of continuing the catalogue has 
