GEOLOGICAL APPROPRIATION.
The Speaker announced the special order, viz.: the consideration of Mr. Thayer's bill [H. R. 303], to amend sections 2 and 6 of the act providing for a geological survey, and for the collection and preservation of a geological and chemical cabinet of the natural history of the State, creating the office of State Geologist, defining his duties and fixing his salary, and making appropriations for the same, approved March 6, 1869. The question being on the pending amendments, viz.: for striking out the $10,000 total appropriation, and inserting $6,000 in lieu, and striking out the $3,600 salary of the Geologist, and inserting $2,500 in lieu.
Mr. Butterworth considered the importance of the State Geologist and his work to the State at large. His remark the other day with reference to geologists was ungarded. Professor Cox has done a good work and done it well; and it is right that we all maintain for him a good fair salary. But this bill is for an annual appropriation and it makes the salary too large. If we allow the Geologist $2,500 that is a greater salary than is received by any Professor in the colleges of ths State. But as far as the continuation of these surveys are concerned, he failed to see the demand for additional expenses in this way. He would have the Geologist to proceed as in the past, without incurring additional expense as to the surveys, but with an increase of salary.
Debate followed in which Messrs. Reno, Gregory, Mellett, Kimball, North, Johnson, Lenfesty and Branham participated, (see Appendix XIV brevier reports) and after sundry propositions to amend resulting in making the total appropriation $8,000 and the salary of the Geologist $3,000. The bill was finally passed the House of Representatives, yeas - 73; nays - 13.
