Statement of- CONTENTS Page Blitzer, Mr. Charles, Assistant Secretary (History and Art), Smith- Bradley, Mr. James, Under Secretary, Smithsonian Institution. 113, 193, 251, 409, 457, 528, 529 Gates, Peter, of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., CPA, Auditor of Goff, Allan, Chief, Accounting Division, Smithsonian Institution. 321 Kane, Owen A., Legislative Attorney, Office of Legislative Liaison, Lerner, Mr. Abraham, Director, Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum and Moore, Mr. John, Assistant General Counsel, General Accounting Morgan, Mrs. Betty J., Assistant Treasurer, Smithsonian Institution_ Natelli, Mr. Anthony, of Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co., CPA, Pahl, Mr. Eugene L., Assistant Director, Civil Division, General Powers, Mr. Peter G., General Counsel, Smithsonian Institution__ 3, 303, 320, 461 Scantlebury, Donald, Washington Regional Office Manager, General Simmons, Mr. Robert H., a private citizen of Washington, D.C., and 476, 477 SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION General Background-Policies, Purposes, and Goals From 1846 to Present THURSDAY, JULY 16, 1970 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON LIBRARY AND MEMORIALS OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in room 2257, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Frank Thompson, Jr., chairman of the subcommittee, presiding. Present: Representatives Thompson, Brademas, and Bingham. Also present: John d'Amecourt, subcommittee staff director. Mr. THOMPSON. The subcommittee will be in order. Today is the first day of hearings on the Smithsonian Institution. Our first witness will be Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, who has been chief administrative officer of the Smithsonian since 1964. Before his testimony, I would like to reply to the question that has been most often asked with reference to these hearings; namely, why are they being held? The fundamental reason is the responsibility of Congress to oversee all Federal activity and spending. The Smithsonian, although relatively independent compared to other Federal organizations, is essentially a Federal responsibility. It was established by act of Congress in 1846, and over the years the bulk of its growth and its annual operating budget has come from Congress. What we want to begin today is a comprehensive look at the Smithsonian. I might add that this has not been done by Congress for well over 100 years. We hope to obtain a better understanding of how the Smithsonian operates, of its structure, of how it develops and carries out its policies, of how its activity benefits the public and, of course, we want to find out what its goals are for the future. Only when we have this knowledge can the subcommittee and the Congress pass confidently on legislation requested by the Smithsonian. For instance, the subcommittee now has a bill before it to authorize $2 million to plan and acquire a site for a gigantic radio-radar telescope which would be the largest in the world and which would aid the Nation's overall scientific effort immensely. We have another bill which would amend the Smithsonian's existing appropriations authorization to permit them to build sophisticated storage and retrieval systems. We also have a bill to authorize the creation of a National Armed Forces Museum and Park, and a number of other bills, all of which would expand the scope of the Smithsonian and increase its activities. The Congress cannot judge the relative merits of all these bills without a clear picture of what the Smithsonian is in the context of the total effort in this country in the area of art, history, the humanities, and science. These hearings will serve another important purpose. In recent months and, indeed, throughout the history of the Institution, there has been criticism from outside the Smithsonian directed toward its management, its financial activity, and its policies. No large organization is ever free of criticism, founded or unfounded. This subcommittee cannot weigh criticism of Smithsonian activities without first knowing both sides. Hopefully, these hearings will provide the subcommittee with a context in which criticism, whether good or bad, can be judged and action taken accordingly. I do not know whether any new legislation will stem from these hearings, but I feel the subcommittee will come out of them better equipped to handle existing proposals more knowledgeably and efficiently. I believe, and I am sure most people will agree, that the Smithsonian has contributed heavily to all fields of study and has, through its exhibits, done much to further its original purpose, which is, simply put: "For the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men. I believe the Smithsonian is a viable organization, and that its future growth is related to this Nation's growth in culture and science. While the Congress should routinely oversee the activities of the Smithsonian, these hearings should not be construed as a lack of confidence in the purposes or the leadership of the Smithsonian. In the same sense, we should encourage criticism, without allowing it to obscure our goals. With that, I would like to introduce Dr. S. Dillon Ripley, the Secretary of the Institution. STATEMENT OF S. DILLON RIPLEY, SECRETARY, SMITHSONIAN Dr. RIPLEY. Good morning, Mr. Chairman. I am very pleased to have this opportunity to come before you this morning and to begin testifying about the origins and purposes of the Smithsonian Institution. We welcome this opportunity because we feel that it is entirely consonant with our purpose to be in close touch with your committee and to have an opportunity for an exchange of views, especially in regard to pending legislation, but also in regard to the purposes and programs of the Institution. We feel we have far too few opportunities to perform this task, and it is a very hopeful and helpful sign of the continuing interest of the Congress of the United States, which has since the beginning debated and discussed and encouraged the Smithsonian mightily. |