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UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY 
NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM 
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
' i:s. A. 
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS 
FREER GALLERY OF ART 
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE 
CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 
VIA AIR MIL March 5, I 952 
Dr. A. Wetmore 
C/O Mr. James Zetek 
Drawer C 
Balboa, Canal Zone 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
Things have gone about as expected at the Institution except that we have 
had several talks with representatives from G.A.O. and Archives regarding 
(1) a change in our accounting procedure, and (2) reports control. The latter 
relates principally to internal forms. We will probably discuss the forms 
matter with the interested people here in the Institution to see if we can 
work out some method in which there will be adequate control of forms, without 
at the same time consuming too much work on the part of any group. The change 
in accounting procedures will not be made effective until June 30 , in any 
case so you will have a chance to look it over. 
As to the hearings, I called Eraard Smith, Chief Clerk of the Senate Com¬ 
mittee on Appropriations, and asked him whether he had any indication as to 
when hearings would begin on the Independent Offices. He said that there had 
not been any schedule set up for the Independent Offices as yet, but in 
preliminary discussions they estimated these hearings would begin about 
April 1, in which case you will be here in time for the hearings. From all I 
can learn. Senate hearings are brief, - State, Commerce, and Justice having 
17 days assigned as against 4o days last year. It looks to me as if our 
principal line of defense will be general rather than specific and should be 
concerned largely with showing that we have not grown. This is important 
since, apparently, there is a very strong drive on to cut ten billion dollars 
from the budget in order to avoid a deficit. I am enclosing the first page of 
the Report on the Treasury and Post Office Departments' Bill which shows that 
far from being cut below 1952 , there will be a. pretty healthy increase, and 
shows only a$ 72 , 000,000 reduction below the budget estimates for 1953* If* the 
other House subcommittees operate on the same basis, it vail mean that there 
v/ill be a very strong drive for flat cuts in the Senate, and we should do 
everything possible to present all the arguments against such cuts. 
There vras a roundup of the friends of the Hoover Committee at the Statler 
Hotel, - an all day meeting v^ith both luncheon and dinner being served. Jim 
Adams attended this meeting and his report on it is as follows: 
