REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 33 



Part II. 



April 16. — Dr. Edward M. Hartwell : The Aim and Effects of Physical Training. 



April 20. — Dr. Frank Baker : Facial Expression. 



April 23. —Miss H. C. De S. Abbott : The Chemistry of the Higher and Lower Plants. 



April 30. — Prof. Harrison Allen: Rights and Lefts. 



May 4. — Prof. S. P. Langley : Sunlight and the Earth's Atmosphere. 



May 7. — Dr. J. H. Bryan : The Mechanism of the Human Voice. 



During the year the following-named societies have, by permission of 

 the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, held their meetings in the 

 Museum lecture hall: The National Dental Association, July 27 to 29, 

 inclusive; The Biological Society of Washington,* annual meeting, 

 January 22 ; National Convention of Superintendents of Schools, March 

 15 to 17, inclusive. 



CURRENT ADMINISTRATIVE WORK. 

 Furniture, Supplies, and Accounts. 



The following statement in regard to the cases and other furniture, 

 supplies, and accounts of the Museum, covering the fiscal year 1886-'87, 

 has been prepared by Mr. W. V. Cox, chief clerk. 



The U. S. National Museum is supported by three appropriations an- 

 nually voted by Congress ; one being for preservation and increase of 

 collections, one for furniture and fixtures, and one for heating, lighting, 

 electrical, and telephonic service. 



The principal appropriation made for the Museum is the one for the 

 Preservation of Collections. The wording of the act of Congress mak- 

 ing this appropriation for the year ending June 30, 1887, is as follows: 



Preservation of Collections op the National Museum : For the preserva- 

 tion, exhibition, and increase of the collections received from the surveying and ex- 

 ploring expeditions of the Government, and from other sources, including salaries or 

 compensation of all necessary employe's, one hundred and six thousand five hundred 

 dollars. 



Out of this appropriation, therefore, are paid the salaries of curators, 

 scientific assistants, clerks, and other employes, the nature of whose 

 work is properly chargeable to it. This service amounted during the 

 year to $95,133.70. 



The greatest number of employes on the roll in any one month 

 was 126, in January, 1887 ; the smallest number was 106, in April of 

 the same year. 



The highest salary paid was $300 per month ; the lowest was $20, 

 paid to an attendant; the average salary being $65. 



The further disbursements of this fiscal year were as follows : $1,768.69 

 was expended for stationery; $281.94 was expended for books; $4,847.63 

 for specimens ; $2,619.61 for general supplies ; $1,765.37 for freight and 

 cartage ; which, with the total of $95,133.70 paid for services, left a bal- 

 ance of 2 cents to be " covered into the Treasury." 



* The regular meetings were held by this society every other Saturday evening un- 

 til March 19, after which the society met in the Cosmos Club rooms. 

 H. Mis. 600, pt. 2 3 



