Measures for Progress: A History of the National Bureau of Standards

538 APPENDIX C
Joint Resolution of 27 July 1866 k(14 Stat. 369)—Joint Resolution to
enable the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish to each State one Set of the
Standard Weights and Measures of the Metric System [as modified by Acts
of 14 February 1903 and 4 March 1913 transferring the responsibility
to the Secretary of Commerce].
Be it resolved . . ., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, author-
ized and directed to furnish to each State, to be delivered to the governor thereof, one
set of the standard weights and measures of the metric system for the use of the States
respectively.
Act of 28 July 1866 (14 Stat. 339)—An Act to authorize the Use of
the Metric System of Weights and Measures.
Be it enacted - . -, That from and after the passage of this act it shall be lawful
throughout the United States of America to employ the weights and measures of the
metric system; and no contract or dealing, or pleading in any court, shall be deemed
invalid or liable to objection because the weights or measures expressed or referred to
therein are weights or measures of the metric system.
SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That the tables in the schedule hereto annexed
[omitted herel shall be recognized in the construction of contracts, and in all legal
proceedings, as establishing, in terms of the weights and measures now in use in the
United States, the equivalents of the weights and measures expressed therein in terms
of the metric system; and said tables may be lawfully used for computing, determining,
and expressing in customary weights and measures the weights and measures of the
metric system. -
Joint Resolution of 3 March 1881 (21 Stat. 521)—Joint resolution
authorizing the Secretary of the Treasury to furnish States, for the use of
agricultural colleges, one set of standard weights and measures and for other
purposes [as modified by Acts of 14 February 1903 and 4 March 1913
transferring the responsibility to the Secretary of Commerce].
Resolved - - ., That the Secretary of the Treasury be, and he is hereby, directed
to cause a complete set of all the weights and measures adopted as standards to be
delivered to the governor of each State in the Union, for the use of agricultural colleges
in the States, respectively, which have received a grant of lands from the United States,
and also one set of the same for the use of the Smithsonian Institution: Provided
That the cost of each set shall not exceed two hundred dollars, and a sum sufficient
to carry out the provisions of this resolution is hereby appropriated out of any money
in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated.
Act of 11 July 1890 (26 Stat. 242)—An Act Making appropriations
for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. . . . [to the] Office of Con-
struction of Standard Weights and Measures [as modified by Acts of 14
February 1903 and 4 March 1913 transferring responsibility to the Secretary
of Commerce], making sums available: