Mr. MORRILL. Not this precise provision, but an application was brougbtbefore the ComDistCol for a similar revision in favor of another institution of this ind chartered at the present session. The act was approved on the 1st of June, incorporating a ospital of a similar character, I do not remember its name. The question which was presented to the committee is this: these private corporations come here and ask simply in a charter; they call ita private corporation; it is a private charity; the {Issue to be asso ciated for the purpose of holding real estate and transmittingt e same; they do not ask to be endowed; and there was no expectation on the part of the ComDistCol when either of these acts of incorporation was granted that they would expect to be endowed by the Government. It seemed to be an indifferent affair that the Sisters of Charity should be granted corporate powers to enable them more successfully, as was supposed, with greater facilities to accomplish the object proposed, which was in part a public object of course, but so far as they were concerned it was a private affair. Now, I do not rise so much to oppose this amendment or to advocate it as to state the general facts. The ComDistCol having this application from another institution and finding that the ComFinance or the ComWays&Means of the House had seen fit to make an appropriation to this institution, and thereby to that extent establishing the principle that we would endow these private corporations here, instructed me to offer an amendment to this bill endowing the institution which we in corporated this year, and which I proposeto do according to the instructions, provided it is the sense of the Senate that these institutions are ro or subjects for endowment on the part of this 'overnment of the U.S. I ought to say, perhaps, that on examination the ComDistCol came to the conclusion that this was not the duty of the Government in any sense, that these corporations were not in a situation to ask to be endowed. This Providence hospital was incorporated in 1864. The incorporators were highly respectable persons, females resident here in the city of‘ iishin ton, and the object is highly commendable unoubtedly, and it has commended itself to the private charit of the city. The other corporation to which allude, incorporated at this session, so recently aslast mont, is conducted by gentlemen of the high est respectability; it is in the hands of gentlemen of very great skill, and I have no doubt it will be of very great public interest. But the question after all is, whether the Congress 02the U.S. hold that this class of institutions are the proper subjects for endowment out of the Treasury of the U.S. That is the question to be settled by the Senate. If thatis tobe so, then of course we ought to be a little more careful how we nt these charters. We have been in the abit, when application has been made by respectable persons who desire to be associated for the better facility of dispensing charities, to say that there is no harm in their having a charter; and we have not been in the habit of supposing that we incurred any responsibility or any liability by giving such a charter; but we are advised now that they are our adopted children, and that by the act of incorporation we do incur a responsibility and that an implication arises that they are to be endowed. Now, sir, I do not rise to o pose the amendment of the committee, nor 0 I rise to advo cate it. I only desire to call the attention of the Senate to the general subject; and if the ComFinance and the Senate feel that this is a proper subject of endowment out of the U.S. Prcasnry, then I shall not object, but shall only endeavor to follow it by such other legislation nswill put all theseinstitutions upon an equality. I ought to observe, I think, in this place, that I am afraid there has not been quite as much care in referring this question to the appropriate committees for examination as there ought to have been. I think it is quite impossible that a ComAppropriat could have the specific information to enable them to act intel igently in all the cases of the institutions that are somewhat kindred and entitled to the bounty of the Government situated in the DistCol; and I think all the appropriations asked for ought to be referred to the appropriate committees for special examination. I believe they have been to some extent hitherto, but at the present session I think not. It will be found that the appropriations for charitable institutions in the DistCol are very large. The congress of the U.S. supports to’a very great extent all the public charities in this city; in addition to that, it pays the expenses of the entire administration of justice of the 2 cities and of the whole District, jails, penitentiaries, die. ltis for the Senate to say how far they will go in this direction.