REPORT OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY. 19 



Institution concerning its proceedings and the condition of historical 

 study in America. The first report of the Association, for 1889, was 

 transmitted to Congress June 16, 1890, and will be published as Senate 

 Miscellaneous Document No. 170. 



OPENING OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM AND SMITHSONIAN BUILDINGS 

 DURING EXTRA HOURS. 



On December 20, 1889, Hon. W. H. Crain, M. 0., introduced a bill (H. 

 E. 3341), requiring the National Museum and Smithsonian buildings to 

 be kept open to the public from 10 a. in. to 5 p. m. during the months of 

 November to March inclusive ; and from 11 a. m. to p. m. during the 

 remaining months of the year. This was read twice, referred to the 

 Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds, and ordered to be printed. 

 No further action has yet been taken by Congress. A new bill (H. B. 

 7671), having in view practically the same object, and also providing for 

 an electric plant for lighting the Museum, was introduced later iu the 

 session by Hon. W. H. Crain, and referred to the Committee on the 

 Library. 



COLLECTION TO ILLUSTRATE THE COMPARATIVE HISTORY OF 



RELIGION. 



A collection of objects used in connection with the public and pri- 

 vate ceremonies of the Jews is being formed under the supervision of 

 Dr. Cyrus Adler. One case of objects relating to this subject is already 

 on exhibition. Many of them were obtained for the Museum by Dr. H. 

 Friedenwald. Among the specimeus exhibited are, a manuscript copy 

 of the Pentateuch ; a silk taleth ; phylacteries of various sizes ; a silver 

 spice-box; a manuscript copy of a tablet on which is kept a reckoning 

 of time between Passover and Pentecost: a shofar, or ram's horn; a 

 manuscript roll of Esther; a lamp of brass, and many objects pertain- 

 ing to domestic worship. 



THE CAPRON COLLECTION. 



In the report for 1888 (p. 19) reference is made to the introduction of 

 a bill into the Senate by Hon. Daniel W. Yoorhees, providing for the 

 purchase of the collection of lacquers, bronzes, carved ivories, coins, and 

 other works of art obtained in Japan by the late Gen. Horace Caprou. 

 The bill was favorably acted upon in the Senate, but did not come to a 

 vote iu the House of Representatives. A new bill (No. 321) was intro- 

 duced into the Senate on December 4, 1889, by Hon. Daniel W.Voorhees, 

 for the same purpose. It was referred to the Committee on the Library, 

 whence it was reported favorably, and passed the Senate March 29, 

 1890. The amount appropriated was $14,675. This bill was favorably 

 reported by the House committee also on May 19, but has failed to 

 pass the House during the first session of the Fifty-first Congress. 



