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

scientific body, or any scientific person Thsv m.st
have considered II OF very little value or else thew wonid
certainly have been willing 10 take when il was offered
70 mem bpt mere IS The resut-the product OF this ex
pedioD collected, arranged and spread out before us n
the most attractive fom-l suppose by scientific men
Here the result OF four years explorations SO far as the
objects OF natural history concerned in the desc
on OF which we have expended many thousands of dol.
lars, offered TO scientific and literary institution OF this
CITY, established here for the purpose of taking charge OF
such matters Tor the government. and they absolutely
refused Il house-room when offered as free gift They
lhough was not worth the money it would lake to put
up shelves and mt up proper room for lis accommoda
hon. do not stale this conclusive evidence OF the
value OF this collection But think have right TO
menton u as lair offset 10 The statements made BY the
senators from Maryland and Illinois, that scientific men
were OF the opinion that this collection very val
This item Of $25 900 embraces not only the publication
OF The works OF the exploring expedion but il is for the
expenses Of green house. That green-h believe
is 10 accommodate portion OF the collection made by this
exploring expedition So we have here, brought upon
US oy this expedition. not only an almost iniermnabe
system Of book-making but green -house system We
have gone into the cultivation of all SORTS OF plants
we have comssioner, believe, take charge the
green; house We have grounds appropriated for il
glass houses erected for ii and every year we are called
upon Tor an appropriation TO pay its expenses.
MI Ireslden this may all be very well; il may all be
nght may all be constitutional; il may all be useful
ana our laoors In carrying such system may be very
patriotic; may benefit the people of some portions OF
this country but it does strike me as in very
conuast WAn e course OIL senator's that when pTOpo
son Is made here Tor money to be appropriated clear
Out our great rivers to make safe our nayiga
on to save the lives and property Of our citizens en-
gagged in pursuits which the constitution and The laws
recognise, and upon which the welfare Of this country
depends. the cold shoulder is turned 10 u.s. Money is
refused year alter year, while rivers filling up
our men, women, and children engaged in their lawful
business are destroyed and their property lost to The
amount OF millions of dollars annually Not dollar
can be given for that object Not dollar has been given
since have had the honor OF occupying seat on this
foor-now more than foar yearsand yet we have thou
sands OF dollars appropriated, without scruple and with
out hesitation for the employment Of to draw pic
and matters of curious vegetable growth that have been
temen of leisure ts s8s }0 -sa4rib9He5 ~ =. (.
know these remarks may be considered as very coarse
and very demagoguical am willing to bear the imputa
ton They may not indicate my part very high order
OF science, or very highly cultivated TASTE But they do
indicate on my part what l sincerely believe in my
heart that we owe duties 10 the practical business
terests OF the country, certainly in higher degree than
we do to such ornamental branches this appropriation
is proposed TO beneht. One hundred and eighty five
thousand dollars have been expended upon this single
objects and $4,000 have been refused to clear out the
raft in the great Red river and only $2eooOo pro-
posed 10 be appropriated for the great Mississippi the
Ohio the Missouri, the Arkansas, and all the great
rivers OF the West, where hundreds Of millions OF com
merce float and millions Of our citizens yearly travel
ling Such an appropriation that is opposed here
this hoor, and It's passage rendered doubtful and those
who oppose very compacently come forward and pro-
pose to go on with this system of expendng thousands
mental branches of the business OF lie.
The senator from Maryland tells us-what | have no
doubt uethat these works have very high charac-
among scientific men so high character that in some
several editions OF them have been published and
there s great demand for them. II that be the case
spread them before the public The senator from Illinois
has told US that the great works of Audubon and o.
Humboldt have required an expenditure Of great deal
money. would like TO know from him if any govern.
ment ever appropriated money for their publication
Mr.. SHIELDS Other governments have appropriated
great deal for such objects OF science F'f lg
Mr.. BORLAND. Our government never appropriated
money for Audubon's great work II we to follow
the example OF other governments in expenditures
we shall be in rapid road to-l will not say what Othe
governments may according 10 the principles OF their sys
TENS, make such appropriations but has not III,
power.
II these works so valuable-if they can command
admiration everywhere, and are so much in demand
why do we not let the commander OF this expedition
carry out the object for which he obtained copyright
and on which If this statement be true, he would realize
money! Why should we give him preference any
other publisher who has valuable work to publish
am for pursuing the regard these works
which we pursued in regard to the Indian book Of Mr.
Schoocrai, which, apprehend, is valuable In every
respect as this In the last appropriation for that work
we prescribed limit 10 t--hat il should be finished
within certain time, and should be limited so many
volumes Ii that be done in this case am willing
Mr.. SHIELDS. Perhaps might agree with the hon
oable senator II this were question. My objection
is that our economical fits always TOO hate Now
here have been for fourteen years expend money
this enterprise and believe this is the last
which will be demanded for It, Yet al the expiration of
fourteen years, when the result OF the enterprise be
given TO the world the Senate in OF its economical
fits, denounces the whole affair | say that from this we
ought to learn lesson and no, 60 into these
until we are prepared to carry them out to completion We
ought either not 90 into them at all, or to carry them
out when we do 60 into them. That is the view take
OF il. ITO HLf eHt
Mr.. BR0DHEAD. As I always endeavor to make
myself useful a working man, rather than conepcu-
Gus IN the way Of speech making, will offer Provso
TO this item, which will think, test the sense OF the
Senate upon this subject Unless do adopt very shortly
proviso OF he nature which propose, this thing will
on Tor ye9s. We know how these matters worked
up in the public newspapers Whenever there project
before Congress for the purpose OF taking money out Of
the treasury, Mr. A helps Mr. b. II MIR. A writes sci.
another subject they write putting articles for each other
This exploring expedition came home. These men de-
sired job They came before Congress, and got an
act passed pretty much TO suit themselves at the close
OF session. believe about 1912. This work IL still
going on. propose TO bring il 10 an end; and to accom-
plsh that object move amend the amendment OF the
Committee Finance by adding the following pro-
viso.
Propded That the aforesaid sum Of s25 900 shah com.
plete the preparation and publication OF said works.
Mr.. PEARCE. have only 10 say that that would be
insufficient believe that with this appropriation and
another appropriation in another year, complete H.
Mr.. BRADBURY. desire to know whether, If we
do not prescribe some limits, may not be met another
year with the same argument which has now been pre-
sented by the honorable senator from Illinois, who de-
sres to keep the public faith When the publishers OF
other scientific gentleman write another work
we say be told that under the existing law contract
has been made with scientific gentleman IN some por
ton OF the Union to make new volume and the public