Appendix 3. 

 REPORT ON THE INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGES. 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the International Exchange Service during the fiscal year 

 ending June 30, 1912 : 



The congressional appropriation for the support of the service 

 during the year, including the allotment for printing and binding, 

 was $32,200 (the same amount as granted for the past four years), 

 and the repayments for services rendered were $4,391.02, making the 

 total available resources for carrying on the system of international 

 exchanges $36,591.02. 



The total number of packages handled during the year was 

 315,492 — an increase over the number for the preceding year of 

 29,794. The weight of these packages was 508,712 pounds — a gain 

 of 7,904 pounds. The increase in the volume of business, which has 

 been continuous since the establishment of the service, is shown in 

 the diagram on page 59. 



The publications dispatched by the Exchange Service are classified 

 under four heads: First, the Congressional Record; second, "Parlia- 

 mentary documents"; third, "Departmental documents"; fourth, 

 " Miscellaneous scientific and literary publications." 



The term " Parliamentary documents," as here used, refers to pub- 

 lications set aside bjr law for exchange with foreign Governments, 

 and includes not only copies of documents printed by order of either 

 House of Congress, but copies of each publication issued by any 

 department, bureau, commission, or officer of the Government. The 

 object in sending these publications abroad is to procure for the use 

 of the Congress of the United States a complete series of the publi- 

 cations of other Governments, and the returns are deposited in the 

 Congressional Library. 



The term " Departmental documents " embraces all the publica- 

 tions delivered at the Institution by the various Government depart- 

 ments, bureaus, or commissions, for distribution to their correspond- 

 ents abroad from whom they desire to obtain similar publications in 

 exchange. The publications received in return are deposited in the 

 various departmental libraries. 



The " Miscellaneous scientific and literary publications " are re- 

 ceived chiefly from learned societies, universities, colleges, scientific 



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