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[[preprinted]] SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 759 [[/preprinted]] JOINT RESOLUTION To ascertain which was the first heavier-than-air flying machine. [[underlined]] RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled[[/underlined]], That the President of the United States be, and is hereby, authorized and directed to appoint a commission of the five distinguished citizens of the United States to whom Orville Wright, and all other persons in any way interested, shall be publicly invited to present evidence as to which was the first successful heavier-than-air flying machine. Sec.2. That said commission shall serve without compensation but shall be permitted actual expenses, including round trip travel pay from their respective homes to Washington, District of Columbia, and subsistence not exceeding $10 a day for not exceeding ten days while in Washington. Sec.3. That the Secretary of War is hereby directed to furnish the necessary clerical and stenographic assistance for the use of said commission; and the testimony, records, documents, and minutes of proceedings of said commission shall be preserved by the Air Corps of the United States Army. Sec.4. That the report and the conclusions of said commission shall be filed with the President of the United States no later than November 1, 1928, and shall in turn be transmitted to the Congress on the first Monday in December, 1928, and ten thousand copies thereof shall be printed and equally allotted to the Members of Congress through the folding room. Sec.5. That an appropriation not exceeding $2,000 is hereby authorized to carry out the provisions of this joint resolution. The Secretary suggested that as the Joint Resolution was somewhat indefinite, it might well be amended, as follows:- P.1,line 8 - For "successful" substitute "power-propelled". P.1,line 8 - After "machine" add "capable of sustained free flight carrying a man". The Secretary stated that Mr. Newton's secretary had called up to say that a hearing would be held on H.J.Res.224 by the Military Affairs Committee on Friday, March 16, beginning at 10 o'clock. This notification was at Mr. Newton's request and assumed that he would notify the Regents and authorities of the Smithsonian Institution of the hour and date. In this connection, the Secretary read the following letter from Mr. Moore: HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 14 March, 1928 Dr. Charles G. Abbot, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Dear Dr. Abbot: With reference to the Langley-Wright controversy it seems to me, from such consideration as I have been able to give the matter, that it is unnecessary for the Board of Regents to take any formal action in the way of defending the conclusion heretofore reached by the authorities of the Institution, but that it might very well indicate in a general way its willingness to assist in the most complete presentation of the facts to a commission of inquiry, should one be [[initialed]]CGA [[/initialed]]
