for other bills relating to the act establishing the Smithsonian Institution see S. 18, S. 245, S. 293, S. 292, H. R. 5, H.R. 863, H.R. 386, H.R. 418, H.R. 259, H.R. 1160, H.R. 1161
Summary:
Mr. Adams from the Select Committee reported the bill which was read twice and committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union. The bill establishes the Vice President, the Chief Justice, the Secretaries of War, State, Treasury and Navy, the mayor of Washington, three members of the Senate and four members of the House as the Trustees of the Smithsonian. It pledges the faith of the United States for the preservation of the fund. It asserts that no part of the fund should go toward a school of any kind. Congress shall make appropriations only from the interest on the fund. It establishes that there should be an astronomical observatory. All expenditures make by the board are subject to the approval of the President of the United States. It establishes a board of visitors whose job will be to inspect the condition of the observatory and the Smithsonian Institution generally.