The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-08-26

tne FTenCn WORK, which tuc law mduc lnc STANDARD
the best way they could They have in order 10
expense, made contracts by which they think the bur-
den upon the treasury will be essened Instead OF en-
ploymg scientific gentlemen at annual salaries they
thought il better to make contracts for specific sums
Those contracts have been made in pursuance OF law,
and must be fulfilled. The government cannot credita:
in whole in par. Ii gentlemen think there is any
abuse in this lhng--that the work has continued
greater length Of time than spropeet them compare il
with those published in other countries, and see whether
this publication 10 not more extensive, more valuable,
and more credtabe to the "a Y, than any similar one
which has ever been execute FER the auspices OF any
other government But if the result should be unfavor
apprehend will not be the casethen let
Congress by law repeal the act OF 1912, and make
provision for the satisfaction Of the contracts which are
Mr. BORLAND. / did not rise for the purpose Of OBJ
jectng to what had been done in this matter for the
purpose Of calling in question the legality and propety
of what the Joint Committee on the Library had done
Nor dd rise for the purpose OF casting any Impuiaton
upon the character OF the work--to deny that II was
purpose OF getting such information the senator from
Maryland has very kindly and very fully furnished
have no doubt that the work is a valuable one have
no doubt that the Committee the Library have faith
fully and iudciousy performed the duties required OF
them by law in that regard But this is the fact in regard
TO myself and do not know how many other senator's
may be in the situation Ii is only by accident that
have seen this work and do not know what use Is TO
be made of it after il is published The usual custom,
believe, has been, when work has been published un-
der order of Congress- that it shall by some means or
other into the possession of those by whom and
for whose use was proposed TO be published DO not
know where this work is do not know how much II
costs year. 1t is certainly fair question 10 be sub.
mtted TO either house OF Congress- whether regarded
sufficiently valuable to be misunderstanding 1t is
worth the money which has already been paid Tor It,
take great interest in all objects OF science am as
desirous 10 them prosecuted Judlcously ably, and
successfully, any ones but cannot say am prepared
20 quite far this system seems TO have gone al
ready. do not know that am prepared, as a'member
Of Congress- 10 engage the government in the work oi
collecting materials and publishing books in every branch
OrnithOOQy ebnOlOaV. cOnClOIOgV,
and great many others, the names OF which do not
recall just at this moment desired. however, when
rose, 10 get information to what had been done with
this matter, that Congress and the country might know
what the character of the work, what had been
done In regard 10 it, and be able to form an opinion as
TO whether we should have any more OF II. II there
have been contracts made under the law, OF course we
are bound 10 meet them.
Mr. BROOHEAD Mr. President. | have looked lit.
tie into this subject, and with number of other gentle
men, have to the conclusion that this publication
ought certainly shortly to come to an end This expo-
ring expedition out four years collecting information,
and have been about nine publishing the results
We told that this s to be continued two years longer
That will be eleven years to publish what 1t took these
gentlemen four years TO collect That looks somewhat
unreasonable. eettu .n @
When we come TO look at the amounts which have
been heretofore appropriated Tor this purpose we must
also to the conclusion that the sums which have
been received also unreasonable, and that this IS
book making job. do not design TO cast any impnaton
whatever on The committee which has had it in charge
The law gave them their directions think the project
was improperly originated, and that many OF those con.
neced with it have taken great while to make the pub
On the 81 OF March, ls4a $40 900 were appropriated
for this object On the 81 OF March, 1885, 900
appropriated Tor completing the publication Of the work
on the exploring expedition, Including The printing OF an
extra number OF charts" that in S43 in the appro.
priaon bill, we made an appropriation OF $4,000 for
completing this publication. And now IN 1852, we have
item proposed 10 be inserted in the appropriation bill Of
$4,000 Tor doing the same thing am little like the
senator from Arkansas: want TO know where this thing
is TO be ended And in order to get information
this subject and the attention OF the Senate
and OF the country to IT, ask them 10 look at the appro
puauons which have heretofore been made. In ls46,
$4,000 appropriated; in Is47. $4,000 in 1885,
$50, 1853 In the appropriation bill OF the Sd OF March,
is49, find items OF $4,000 each for this object
making $4,000 for that year In 1880, $4,000 were ap
propriaed In 1851, S25 900 appropriated for
continuing the preparation and publication OF the works OF
the exploring expedition, including the pay OF the scien
c corps, &c., OF property and for printing paper
and other contracts under the law OF lst2 authorizing the
preparation and publication OF the works Why SIR, II
seems 10 enlarge every year. These sums IN the whole
amount TO $685. 753 for the publication OF this work
The exploring expedition was out four years, and II
has taken nine years. at cost TO the country OF over
Ss5ooo, TO publish the results OF their explorations in
those four years Yet, S25 900 more asked Tor
the continuation of the publication. With the senator
from Arkansas want to know how long this is 10 be
continued have given the Senate the total amount OF
appropriations for this object That amount. believe
does not include the expenses OF sending out the exped
ion but is for the publication alone have thought it
proper 10 bring these facts thus briefly 10 the notice OF the
Senate.
Mr. HALE Mr. President / am exceedingly glad to
find that al length somebody else besides myself has
given attention TO this subject Ever since have
had the honor OF holding seat the floor OF the SEN
aie have steadily and uniformly voted against all these
appropriations and, in my feeble way, have endeavored
10 expose them. But have been answered, as we all
have been this morning by the very able, learned, and
accomplished chairman OF the Committee on the Library
MIR PEARcE,l who has given us dissertation upon the
usefulness and value OF these scientific works Now,
am going hazard opinion II may be rash, and per
haps it may be said hazard but little 10 making IT, But
venture the assertion that OF all the bumbugs that have
been imposed upon the world in the shape OF scien-
tdc matter, the exploring expedition o the United States
OF America will stand out gigantic pyramid so Tar as
has done anything pertinent TO the purposes oil an ex-
plonng expedition,
That the committee, under the law passed by Congress,
or under their construction OF II. have engaged great
many OF these scientific works that men who never saw
the countries TO which this expedition sent, and
never went enough TO the seashore 10 dig clam.
have been employed TO write scientific works on ethnoo-
~ and concbology psychology and all other kinds
OF otogies n the world and that they may have got up
beautiful books illustrated with splendid prints, do not
doubt Bot IL might Just well have come IN under any
other department under the exploring expedition That
they may have brought home specimens o mneralogy,
and conchoogy and botany and eihnology, and so on,
TO the end OF the chapter and that they may have enst
says and illustrations upon them, do not doubt But
do not understand that TO be the pertinent and proper
work OF an exploring expedition. Nor do suppose J,
was such work az the men who framed the original
law had in view. suppose they had some idea of ex-
pring expeditions from what they had read OF the voy
ages and vels OF in other times who made explo
ring expeditonssuch Captain Cook and Christie
pher Columbus. How many etbnologsts, coDchoogsts,
and mammaogss. and mineraozists did they take with
-. Al.s larfA ne.