The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-12-13

Der shall have right to the previous question
unless the question before the House shall be distinctly
stated by the Chair or by the Clerk.
The SrEAKER-Tbe amendment will be In order
aft er that of the gentleman from Tennessee shall havs
MIR. JoHssos-I understand that NO decision has
been made on my sme ndment
The SPFAKER-No, cir
Mr. JoHssoN- This institution involves an expense
cfbrpdreds If Thousands of dollars and can't
Why any individual is opposed to having appointed
committee ON the Smithsonian Institution The Re.
have control Of the fu nds and cannot imagine
why the in which they are disposed Of should
be WITHHELD and also the progress Of the work and all
that tort of thing. confess that am very much
astonished that gentleman should refuse to have
committee appointed. Do gentlemen want to refuse
light. spd TO exclude factsi How is the money ex-
pended? Do want to stihs information! IL Is
psipg strange that when large amoun mt of money
is involved any gentleman should say they don't want
the facts reported to the House. There have been
numerous complaints as to tho expenditure of the
money the construction OF the building, and the
means by which it has been wasted and will the
House exclude facto as to future operations? No
ham can result by the appointment OF a COMMITTEES.
If the money has been properly expended, let the fact
60 10 the country. 1t would be an argumsnt in its
favor.
MIR. McCLELLANp-Ther have been reports sent in
by the board Of oegents They very full and am
pie with regard to all the facts which the people should
know about the Institution But how have we treated
these reports One OF them WAS laid before the House
at IL last session Of Congress- but this house refused
to print It The report, as the gentleman from Ten.
nesee will find, sets forth in the most simple and
lucid manner every thing connected Win the insti-
tuition, ffem its o sanizston, ana wnen the Jaw was
that beard, that not afraid OF any investigation
through emmttee of this House, or otherwise.
can tay-ard | GO for economy and retrenchment
where they BE- appiedthat the board of Regents,
go far as ny knowledge extends have acted on just
principle in every transaction. surprised and
astonishe d, when entered upon my official duties, to
that almost every report in circulation with regard
to The Institution was entirely Ease and groundiess
spd do cay. hope every gentleman who Is friend
Of that Institution will permit this committee to be
appoiDtec ard be composed Of those who are radically
opposed 10 it. that they make the closest scrutuy
iLto its affairs If they draw such repo the facts
will warrant the institution will rise much higher in
the public estimation.
Mr. HnLiARp-I rise, as a member Of the board of
k.gen's to make opposition, If 1t be the desire Of
the ouse to establish The COMMITTEES but Co noti,e the
tprit in which the remarks Of the gentleman feom
Tennessee were made. When the report at the last
session was brought forward aud motion submit
ted to rrint it, the gentleman interposed and objected
to the printing. Now, he moves committee, for the
rssoD as he intmates, that are not willing to
hitt cur doings TO the country. He charges an in
oyer appropriation Of the money and an extravagaat
distribution of funds The report set forth thing
as TO the management Of the institution. aud when
moved to have II printed, to amazement, the gen.
tlemsn objected, on the ground that the printing
would Involve the country in expense; and he pro-
poses stan ding committee Of three mem of each
House, (as many there Regents) To this, Of
fer no opposition it to the taste
Of the House.
MIR JOHNSON, with Mr. Hilliard's permssion) ex-
plains The gentleman from Alabama has stepped
OIL the wrong footing He says that the simple ooec-
iron nsd to the printing OF the report made at the
money. He mistakes wholly the ground OF my oppo-
siton. II will be remembered by him and the House.
that wac trying the whole OF last session to procure
the appointment Of committee before printing the
report that they might examine it and ascertain whe.
Their the report such a as should be printed.
or not This was my objection. / wanted the report
referred to committee, inquire into the expedency
Ct printing it and the work on architecture. want
ed the committee to inquire into the design of the n
stitution, and the manner in which the money was
expended My objection was not simply on accoun.
OF the expenditure involved in the printing, but to
acerain and fnd out all the facts about the institu
ton. hat they might be reported to the House.
gentleman now. So far as the expense of printing is
concerned, thought that was his objection at that
time but now he wants the same committee to ex-
anime whether the report such should be printed
1t would have been better to print the report and then
the Hou'e could have the condition of the insttu-
ton Themselves The hostility ofthe gentleman
setl.d. The spirit in vhch be made his motion does
not grow out Of desire to have the institution better
conducted or rendered more efficient. 1t is, on the
contrary, incorporating hostility which he aud
few others only feel toTards the institution. lie OBJ
cted at the first organizations at the inception of the
event be would uproot the establishment and
turn to the British government to the trustees Of
the donor, this maenifcent fund. l ask whsther
this Is not so? And ask whether he is not opposed
to any nee, hereafter, of the fund!
MIR. JoHSsoN-As the question Is asked, will very
cheerfully answer profess 10 know whether my hos
MIR. T. SsnrH, ruddenly ristn9-I would ask, Mr.;
Speaker whether it IL in order to discuss the general
merits Ct the Smithsonian Institution?
The SPEAKER-We have mo rules OF proceedings at
this moment We acting under the parliame tary
law, which gives q large range TO the discussion.
MIR. JonNsoN-I am satisfed that the gentleman
does not make his remarks in an unkind spirit He
asks whether am opposed to the organization OF the
institution The gentleman miscon ceives my opposi-
sition to the Smithsonian lnsttution have no sxed
hostility The hostility il it may be so called is
fisted other IND different grounds than mere hos
tility to the Smithsonian Institution The why
wanted the committee appointed not from hostili-
crss of the country at the time; and, aided to the
crisis at the present time, might be regarded as On
allure The hupd was received by the United
States. The government discharged ITS duty with
hdelity by taking care OF the fund But this
fund is now sunk and lost According to my
the government exonerated from any further
responsibility with the fund. Considering that the
po Dollar the ths S
pose the institution being established with the funds
OF the treasury. did not oppose the institution to
to appropratng money tor this purpose In time of
war some five Fix hundred thousand dollars and
then, it i: my oppotition now Another reason why
was opposed TO the printing then: Under the law
s242 Goo were withdrawn from the treasury and by A.
extraordinary process OF fnancierihg the money "
compounded and doubled, and boast made
the principal need not be touched. have the
nents to show that the money is sunk and gone
not ge ntle me n know that passed u law take
the treasury what was not there, From 1886 u
tertst has been counted what is not in the
"nd money appropriated for the erection Of the ind
tuition believed this to be wrong, and still belio~o
co. How the money has been taken out Of the tres.
tury, have never been able to ascertain. hope We
VIII now be enabled to ascertain can say that there
Is no constitutional authority for the act drawing
from the treasury money which is not there, and
placing it in the hands of the board. Who does not
recolect the remarks in the city at the time
about tie contract! There fraud charged;
II was published in the country that there corrup-
ton IN the ncipis ncy OF the n uon; and want
ed to Zee it Terrified out, and made known to the
Union. We find in the constitution that members
cannot hold two civil offices; but Regents oers
Of Congress- and receive pay for travelling to the in
uion while they receive mileage for travelling here
as members Of Congress, and to defsay their
expenses. Should we not look into such tniDgs We
were tod too that the building Of bad material.
and perishabe in its nature But II the building Is
CONTRACTED Of durable materials where is the design
OF the individuals into whose hands has passed the
money Of the country? ! want the committee to ex
anime into the subject, and report the facts that
II ay judge whether these rumors correct not
Suppote have hostility to the institution. Ii the in
stitoton be right, and the objects right in the