Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-15
Feb. IA, 1883.
The Institute of Civics.

ANNUAL MEEIlNG AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The annual meeting OF the American Institute
with Hon. Nathan Ii. X. Dawson in the chair and
Hon. VIM. f. sheldon, OF Boston, acting as secre-
tary. The annual report showed a most satisfac-
tory progress OF the institute many members In
various places voluntarily entering upon local
work. The work done in the public schools, the
report says, is noteworthy: Many demands have
been made upon the officers for lectures upon
cirics, some Of which II was impossible to meet,
owing TO the small number of men prepared OF
available for the work. The aid given by the
press and the pulpit was also noticed.
NEW TRUSTEES.
Trustees for the coming year were elected as
follows; Hon. Morrison K. Waite, L. D., Chief
Justice supreme Court OF the United States; Hon.
Mellen Chamberlain, L. d., Boston, Mass. Hon.
John Jay, New York; Rev, ". II. DuPuy, D. d.,
Gen. Henry b. Darlington, Ii. D., L. S. A.; Rev.
Josiah Strong, ID. d., New York; Hon. VIM. L.
D., Washington, d. C.; Noah Porter, D. D., LII. d.
New Haven, Conn; +. A. p. Barnard. S. r. D., LII
D., New York city; Hon. JOS. X. Hawley, IL. d.,
Ainsworth K. Spofford, IL. D., Washington, d. c.
Hon. Theodore W. Dwight, Ii. d., New York city;
Hon Hon u ANDREW Ga1,nes!e IL D. crssson Pa
Hon. Justin $. Morrill,, IL d., Vermont; Hon. and
Rev Julius II. seelye, DID,, IL d., Amherst, Mass.
X. Dawson, Washington, .. c.; Hon. J. ". Dlckil-
son, Ill. d., Boston; Merrill E. Gates LII. D., New
Brunswick, y. j.; Hon. Hugh T. Thompson Wash
ington, ID. c.; Hon. William Preston Johnson III.
d., New Orleans, La; Hon. Carroll D. Wright,
IL d., Washington, D. c.; Alexander Winc6elI,
IL D.. Ann Ar6or, Mich; Hon. WV. Scarborough,
Richmond, Va; Rev. Henry NJ. McCracken DID,
LII. d., New York city; Hon. NJ. y. Newell. L. d.,
Baltimore, Nd; Major J. W. Powell, Pin. d., WASH
ington, ID. c.; Henry Randall Waite, Pm. D., New
York city.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
At a subsequent meeting or this board the fol-
lowing officers OF the institute were elected: Pres
ident, Hon. Morrison X. Waite vice-presIdent,
Hon Mellen Chamberlain; secretary, Hon. VIM. E.
auditor, Rev. Josiah Strong.
The Rebellion Records.
SECRETARY ESDIC0TT's ANSWER TO THE HOUSE IN
QUfRY.
In reply to the House resolution, growing out OF
the complaint that some persons had been re-
fused access TO the rebellion records, Secretary
Endlcott reported to Congress yesterday that sew
eral months before Col Scott's death, a circular
was issued to the Department rcpublishing para
graph I'll OF the army regulations OF 1881, pro-
hibitiDg the giving OF any official Information to
any person not ON duty In the Department with
proper authority, and applied TO all bureaus OF
the Department as well as 10 the War Records
Office. This regulation was first made by Secre-
tary stanton In 1864 and the subsequent order OF
1881 differs from IL only in extending TO chefs OF
bureaus the authority to give information from
tne RECORDS, Wncn was Hrst limited 10 the Secre-
tary Of War himself The reason Tor the order was
to prevent the improper use Of information ir-
regularly obtained, and to provide for the orderly
and methodical transaction OF the Government
business.
The secretary says the officers In charge OF the
War Records Office is permitted to exercise the
authority OF the chief OF bureau under the para
graph OF the regulations above referred 10. and,
as is shown BY The correspondence accompanying
Col LaZees report, the requirements OfthlS regll-
latiOn were enforced upon at least one OF his sub
OrdinateS by the late Col. Scott. subject To the
restriction Imposed by the regulation the privilege
OF inspecting the war records has been freely
granted by Col Lazee to applicants for historical
matter within the respective limits OF their In
quiries except in two cases, in which, not deeming
himself authorized to give the Information asked
for, the applicants were referred to the Secretary
OF War, who gave one OF them the Information
desired. The other made no further effort, although
informed at the publication Office that favorable
action would probably he taken upon his request
II addressed TO the Secretary OF War.