6 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



the Smithsonian Institution to receive money or other property by gift, 

 bequest, or devise, and to hold and dispose of the same in promotion 

 of the purposes thereof. 



Under this section, 5591 of the Eevised Statutes, modified as above 

 noted, the above fund of $912,000 is deposited iu the Treasury of the 

 United States, bearing interest at 6 per cent per annum, the interest 

 alone being used in carrying out the aims of the Institution. 



During the fiscal year 1896-97 Congress charged the Institution with 

 the disbursement of the following appropriations : 



For International Exchanges $19, 000 



For North American Ethnology 45, 000 



For United States National Museum : 



Preservation of collections 153, 225 



Furniture and fixtures 15, 000 



Heating and lighting 13, 000 



Postage 500 



Repairs to buildings - - 4, 000 



Rent of workshops 2, 000 



Galleries 8,000 



For National Zoological Park 67, 000 



For Astrophysical Observatory 10, 000 



The executive committee has examined all the vouchers for disburse- 

 ments made during the fiscal year, and a detailed statement of the 

 receipts and expenditures will be found reported to Congress, in accord- 

 ance with the provisions of the sundry civil acts of October 2, 1888, and 

 August 5, 1892, in a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of 

 Eepresentatives. 



The vouchers for all the expenditures from the Smithsonian fund 

 proper have been likewise examined and their correctness certified to 

 by the executive committee, whose statement will be published, together 

 with the accounts of the funds appropriated by Congress, in that com- 

 mittee's report. 



The estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1898, for carrying 

 on the Government interests under the charge of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, and forwarded as usual to the Secretary of the Treasury, 

 were as follows : 



International Exchanges $23, 000 



American Ethnology 50, 000 



National Museum : 



Preservation of collections 180, 000 



Furniture and fixtures 30, 000 



Heating and lighting 15, 000 



Postage 500 



Galleries 8,000 



Repairs to buildings 8, 000 



Removal of sheds 2, 500 



Rent of workshops 2, 000 



National Zoological Park 75, 000 



Astrophysical Observatory 10, 000 



