National Republican., 1884-01-17
THE SMITHSONIAN REGENTS.
Action OF the Board at Their Annual
Meeting Yesterday.

Meeting Yesterday.
A meeting of the board of regents Of the
Smithsonian institution was held yesterday
at 10 o'clock a. m., at tho Smithsonian. There
were present the chancellor, Chief Justice
Wait1; Hon. G. f. Ednunds, vice president
of the senate Hon. S. V. Maxey, Hon. n. p.
Hill, Hon. J. s. Morrill,, Hon. o. II. Single
ton, Hon. w. X. Wilson, Hon. w. w. Phelps.
Gen. w. 4. sherman, Hon. Peter Parker,
DIR. Asa Gray, Dr. Noah Porter, DIR. Henry
Coppie, and the secretary, Prof. Baird. Tho
| journal of the board was read and approved.
A letter from Rev. DR.. John Maclean was
read, regretting that the condition of his
| health would not permit him to attend the
| meeting of the board. The report of the
| executive committee was presented by the
chairman, DIR. Parker, and read by Gen.
Sherman. On motion of DIR. Gray the fol-
lowing resolution was adopted:
Resoired, That the report of the executive COM
mittec be accepted, aud that the income for the
year 1881 be appropriated for the service of the
institution upon the basis of the above report. to
be expended by the secretary with full discretion
as 10 The items, subject to the approval of the ex-
| ecutive committee.
DIR. Parker from the executive committee,
presented final report on the Henry statue.
On motion of DIR. Coppie it was resolved that
the report of the executive committee on the
Henry statue be printed as part of the an
nual report of the institution. The secre-
| tary presented the annual report of the oper-
ations of the institution for tho year 1883,
which was read in part.
On motion of Gen. Sherman it was resolved
that the annual report of the secretary be re-
| ferred to the executive committee with au-
| thority to transmit it to congress.
DIR. Coppie called the attention of the board
to the subject of the publication of the scien-
tific writings of Prof. Henry, and suggested
the propriety Of providing that part of the
edition should bo bound in library style and
much better than that Of the Henry Memo
rial" volume.
DR.. Gray suggested the Importance of care
full selection Of the manuscripts of Prof.
| Henry, and judicious arrangement of the
| material which, might require two volumes,
one Tor his published scientific papers, tho
other for miscellaneous writings, extracts
from correspondents, &c. The secretary
stated that nothing had yet been done in
arranging the material for the work pro-
posed, but copies had been made of large
number of Prof. Henry's letters to be care.
fully examined before printing. 1t would
be edited by Mr.. w. b. Tayl lor, of the institu-
tion, gentleman perfectly acquainted with
| Prof Henrys scientific work, and believed
to be well qualified for the duty. After
some discussion as to the scope of the work,
on motion of Mr.. Edmunds, it was
Resored. That the publication Of the writings OF
| Prof Henry be supervised by committee con:
.istiug of Dir. Gray, Hon. Mr.. Wilson. and Prof.
| Baird, to act In conjunction with Mr.. w. b. Tay-
lor the editor assigned TO that duty by the secre-
| tary.
Senator Edmunds called attention to the
phraseology of the act of congress in regard
to the appointment Of an acting secretary in
case of tho DEATH disability, or absence OF
the secretary, which he considered imper.
fectly adapted TO provide for an emergency
and on motion of Senator Naxey, it was
ReSolred That Senator Edmunds be requested lc
prepare an amendment TO tho act TO be sub
| mitied to Congress.
On motion of Senator Maxey, the board
then adjourned.