The following pages from the Journal of the House of Representatives and the Journal of the Senate show some of the events during the life of H.R. 596 , An Act to authorize the use of the metric system of weights and measures , in the 39th Congress, and the law itself as published in the Statutes at Large. Relevant paragraphs are highlighted.

Journal of the House , 17 May 1866

On 17 May 1866 , the Journal of the House of Representatives records the introduction and passage of the bill:

Journal of the Senate , 18 May 1866

On 18 May 1866 , the Journal of the Senate reports the House passing H.R. 596:

Journal of the Senate , 20 May 1866

On 20 May 1866 , the Journal of the Senate reports the first reading of H.R. 596 in the Senate and its referral to Committee:

Journal of the Senate , 27 July 1866

On 27 July 1866 , the Journal of the Senate reports the Senate’s passing of H.R. 596:

Journal of the House , 28 July 1866

On 28 July 1866 , the Journal of the House of Representatives reports the bill being sent to the President of the US and later returned with his signature:

Statutes at Large

Finally, here is a copy of the law itself from the Statutes at Large .