The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-06
LAITY NOT WANTED.
Membership Of the Academy of
Sciences Restricted.
a Measure That Will Practically ostracize All
Who Are Not Scientists of
the Annual Election

AS but one set of nominees were in the
field at the annual election of officers of the
Academy of Sciences, held yesterday at the
new Academy Building, the contention at
the polls hinged upon the question of the
proposed amendment to the constitution.
The polls were opened at 8 o'clock in the
morning, the votes coming in slowly until
their closing at in the afternoon. Although
no disturbance interrupted the proceedings,
there was noticeable a decided hostility be-
tween the supporters and opponents of the
proposed measures.
The present membership of the academy
consists OF persons enjoying equal privileges
in every respect but Tie movement now on
foot is 10 restrict the right of suffrage to such
only as are scientists. This change viii not
affect those non-scientific persons who have
already been admitted, but only such as
may apply subsequently to the passage of
the act.
On being questioned regarding the reason
for the proposed change, Inspector of Elec-
ton Charles A. Keller said:
The present prosperity of the academy
has attracted a great number of nom
scientific persons, who desire to become
members. Formerly they have either OPP
pOocu VI OACLtfO Ailtli dEuluot uo
by insulting and sarcastic references to our
work. but they now wish to take the man.
agement of the academy in their own
hands, as undoubtedly can be done should
we admit them to full privileges, as they
| would greatly Outnumher US. Not being
| naturaliSts, and being unfamiliar with our
| OBJECTS, they are in no position to govern
| us, and we therefore propose to restrict
| their right TO vote.
KNOW THEIR OWN WANTS
1T is urged by some that the beneficial
be drawn rom us by Such Course. and
also that scientific men are never as efficient
managers as men of business. But the pre-
vailing opinion seems to be that naturalists
better understand their own wants than
outsiders possibly can"
"Why do l oppose the measured" ejacu-
lated l. E. THAR, as he cast whitening look
upon the reporter who propounded the
question. "Why should we now exclude
the public from an institution whose pros.
| per:ty we owe to it? When we struggled
for support, the benefcence of the public
| spirited lifted us upon our teet, and now
when the though ifulness OF a citizen has
| placed us beyond the necessity oil looking to
| others, it is proposed to shut our doors TO
| them The title OF associate member
amounts to nothing more than 10 member
| ship at all, as the person bearing Il will be
| merely spectator 10 our actions No, sir,
| it is not right and l shall oppose il to the
| last"
The measure is one adopted by all other
| Institutions of the kind IN America the
strongest reasons urged being the difficulty
of making the aim of scientific labor in
teliigible TO the general public. Following
! is the amendment:
THE AMENDMENT.
| ANY person interested in science and advanced
| education can become member OF the assocla-
ton on being proposed by Two members and
| elected by The council. From the members nom
| nations are made for fellows, VINO must ,Je per-
| sons who are professionally engaged In science
| or VINO nave by theiE labors advanced some
branch OF science; and from tie fellows the OIL
| GERS OF the association are elected. The object
| OF ms ARRANGING is TO keep the management
OF The association strictly In the hands OF active
| workers In science, while at the same time lie
| large number OF persons interested In ali that
advanced education calls forth may feel that
| they are welcome, and that the way is omen 10
| their election as fellows, II they belong 10 the
group oil advanced workers in any department
OF science.
| The officers of election, which was con-
Quoted upon the prevailing method of Cali
fornia Stale elections, were: Judges
Charles Stephens and Walter E. BRYANT
lnspectors-T. 5. Brandegee and Charles A.
Keller.
ANNUAL MEETING.
A meeting of the academy was held in
the evening at 80 O'clock. the object being
to hear the result of the election and re-
celve the reports of the different officers.
Ii. w. Hardness presided and j. r Soup
nam acted as Secretary. The President Of
the Board of Trustees, who was called nnon
for his report, read detailed description of
Inc new building, and referred to the pecun-
larry advantage which will accrue to the
academy from rental of Offices. The natural
history collections have been successfully
removed from their old quarters and will
soon be in readiness for exhibition. Certain
lawsuits In which the Trustees are inter-
ested were reported to be pending no def
hdte aalustinent oil the matters involved
Disbursements to tho amop,. =. n-oo
669 Y were reported by TreaSurar 4
Ihair, who further stated that there ,y ~ a.
present ON hand the sum of SI231 o. C 0"~inS
r No a iiiinehse increase in the duties con-
nected with the Office, Mr. Thor rooon,
hehded that his successor be given n hal
Salary, and suggested the consoJidat;or "f
treasurer and clerk of the Trn 0h W
dh,ntH;ng the reforms recommended was the
naymaut ~ aocl.alh exemptions from the
abused. no s"'u' nave been
me Ilorarian announced that grsat nroo-
aess ha9 been made in his department and
from omieufeu tne receipt of 1904 Volumes
reports were also heard from ,ho o,ra
b tors IN 9rnithotogy and ichthyolopy who
ma aS n.aue great progress, and the Psssssidant
year. io "ofR Oh the
OFFICERS ELECTED.
The Committee on Election -.
calied upon and the following offioa was .nra
declared elected: ohicers were
VI d. ". HARNESS. President; II. Fl RAIN E,r.,
pprcetgesdsnt; George Hewston, Secend Vics
krsdesiSE
J.. H. Fooie, Treasurer; Carlo, Treev necrei Iyi
q a. SoqPe director OF Museum: TTus
burnett. George G. Perkins, L j. Mosra r W; U
NJ Scott, John Taylor. oia' ir'ihb
.,a Wn men the inc announcement was made that
slight commotion was noticed am p"IHeu The
a1ese and o Gnstes F. Croker
election, as, he said, not one-onartsr ~ of the
voters y knew for what they were voting.
Inc tendency Of his arguments against the
amendment was substantially as those
given above, and they We're received WITH
applause l. E; THAR followed in a ike
s sdira,n, pat was Interrupted by clamor for
IL Is understood that the matter has not
been finally settled. ms NV
The city of Vancouver. r. q oo,,aots