Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 9.djvu/129

 TWENTY-NINTH CONGRESS. Sess. I. Ch. 178. 1846 103 sury of the United States, on account of the fund bequeathed by James l’;°‘:§;‘l,z? g`";:: Smithson, be, and the same hereby are, pledged to refund to the gmnunt lhérgby treasury of the United States the sums hereby appropriated. ¤PP*°P**°*°d· Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the business of the said Board or reinstitution shall be conducted at the city of Washington by a board $,2*: °°"““' of regents, by the name of the Re ents of the “Smithsonian Institu- ` tion," to be composed of the Vice-lhesident of the United States, the Chief Justice of the United States, and the Mayor of the city of Washington, during the time for which they shall hold their respective offices; three members of the Senate, and three, members of the House of Representatives; together with six other persons, other than members of Congress, two of whom shall be members of the National Institute in the city of Washington, and resident in the said city ; and the other four thereof shall be inhabitants of States, and no two of them of the same State. And the regents to be selected as aforesaid shall Regent; to bg be appointed immediately alter the passage of this act-the members ¤pP¤i¤¢¢d·· ¤<>*' of the Senate by the president thereof; the members of the House by md wh°°' the speaker thereof, and the six other persons by joint resolution of Port, p·115· the Senate and House of Representatives; and the members of the House, so appointed, shall serve until the fourth Wednesday in December, the second next alter the passage of this act; and then, and biennially thereafter, on every alternate fourth Wednesday of December, a like number shall be appointed in the same manner, to serve until the fourth Wednesday in December, the second succeeding their appointment. And the senators so appointed shall serve during the term for which they shall hold, without reelection, their office as senators. And vacancies, occasioned by death, resignation, or other- »·,m,,,,;“,bw wise, shall be filled as vacancies in committees are iilled; and the filledother six members aforesaid shall serve, two for two years, two for four years, and two for six years; the terms of service, in the first place, to be determined by lot; but, alter the hrst term, then their regular term of service shall be six years; and new elections thereof shall be made by joint resolutions of Congress ; and vacancies occasioned by death, resignation, or otherwise, may be filled in like manner, by joint resolution of Congress. And the said regents shall \Vhen regents meet in the city of Vlfashington, on the first Monday of September Sball _¤¤¤¢* wi next after the passage of this act, and organize by the election of one °rgam°‘ of their number as chancellor, who shall be the presiding officer of Chancellor. said board of regents, by the name of the Chancellor of the “Smithsonian Institution}' and a suitable person as secretary of said institu- Secretary. tion, who shall also be the secretary of said board of regents. Said board shall also elect three of their own body as an executive com- llxecutive committee, and said regents shall then fix on the time for the regular m*”€°· meetings of said board; and, on application of any three of the re- R hr md gents to the secretary of the said institution, it shall be his duty to ,,p€c;§°mee,,,,g,_ appoint a special meeting of the board of regents, of which he shall give notice, by letter, to each of the members; and, at any meeting of said board, five shall constitute a quorum to do business. And each member of said board shall be paid his necessary travelling and Member, of other actual expenses, in attending meetings of the board, which shall *l*<?dl;¤{d t*° by be audited by the executive committee, and recorded by the secretary Eg E,;:,,,;? ` of said board; but his service as regent shall be gratuitous. And whenever money is required for the payment of the debts or perform- new pqmnu ance of the contracts of the institution, incurred or entered into in ¤¤¤¢·¤l>¢ ¤¤6¤· conformity with the provisions of this act, or for making the purchases and executing the objects authorized by this act, the board of regents, or the executive committee thereof; may certify to the chancellor and secretary of the board that such sum of money is required, whereupon they shall examine the same, and if they shall approve thereof, shall