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[[preprinted]] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 533 [[/preprinted]] [[preprinted left margin]] MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO. [[/preprinted left margin]] [[underlined]] Memorandum as to the effect of making a regular Congressional appropriation of the interest on the Smithsonian Fund now deposited in the U. S. Treasury. [[/underlined]] [[underlined]] SUMMARY [[/underlined]] CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:- Must be expended with year. No advance may be made from them. Payment restricted by multiplicity of regulations, often difficult to follow. Travelers allowed inadequate daily subsistence. Appointees paid from, only come through Civil Service. Uncertainty annually as to amount to be appropriated. Anticipation of appropriations illegal. SMITHSONIAN INCOME:- None of above now applies to the Smithsonian Income, which may be saddled with all if interest is appropriated in annual supply bills along with other Congressional Appropriations for support of Government branches placed by Congress under Institution. [[underlined]] Not continuous: [[/underlined]] Regular Congressional appropriations must be expended during the fiscal year for which made. Balances from the Smithsonian income at present may be carried over from year to year, thus adding greatly to the effectiveness and convenience of expenditure. In former years, when the expenditures of the Institution were smaller, the principal of the Fund was materially increased by the deposit of accumulated balances. [[underlined]] Advances for exploration and researches: [[/underlined]] Under the law, no advances for any purpose may be made from Congressional appropriations to parties going into the field or to investigators to carry on scientific research. This may be done from Smithsonian funds, and expeditions have been materially benefitted in the past through the temporary allotment in advance from the Smithsonian funds of cash to their field parties and investigators, with which to carry on their work, which they would otherwise have been unable to finance from their personal funds. These temporary allotments are returned to the Institution upon the settlement of their accounts by the individuals concerned. [[initialed]] CDW [[/initialed]]