Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-01-28

At the meeting yesterday OF the regents Of
the Smithsonian Institution the death Of Gen.
Meigs. a regent since 1856, was announced, and
feeling remarks upon the loss to the institution
were made by DR.. Coffee.
The customary report OF the executive COM
mittee was adopted, and ex-senator ]. B. Hem
derson was elected member Of this committee
in place of the late Gen. Meigs.
The secretary, Prof. Langley. stated that his
attention had recently been called to the con-
dition Of the tomb Of Smithson, the founder Of
the Smithsonian Institution, which was in an
obscure cemetery in Genoa, and in a partially
neglected condition. He could say after q per-
sonal inspection that there was nothing upon
it to mark perhaps tho most important act of
Smithson's life, the founding of The Smith
sonian Institution. 1t seemed tina. something
should be done not only to preserve with evi-
dence Of respectful care the place of sepulture
but to mark IN some appropriate way the fact
that he was the founder of the Institution. He
said that he lad taken the responsibility of ap-
propriating small sum for tho perpetual care
OF the tomb. This act was duly approved by
the regents.
THE MAISrEySScE OF THE 1900"
The secretary on presenting his report called
the attention of the regents to the insuficiency
OF the appropriations for the conduct of the
geological Park. The raising of the money APP
prcpriated by taxation from the District was
matter which, he said. it need hardly be re-
called to the regents. had not been anticipated,
anu II was only fair that the moral right of the
taxpayers should be recognized to have what
interested them made q special feature. and
what Interested them was recreation. The de-
bates In Congress showed that this feeling had
found expression there also ard the result was
the occasion OF much greater expense than
the original simple scheme which ontemplated
the reservation of this area for the preserya-
tioI OF buffalo and other species of
American animals near extinction, though
the recreation OF the public always formed q
part of the plans, but not as primary feature.
The insuiticIency OF the appropriation had been
especially ieit with regard to the maintenance
eud care OF different animals. The actual ex-
penditures had been reduced to the lowest
point, the policing OF the area of 167 acres hay
ing been done by force OF ono watchman and
two employees who had other occupations, and
a IKE stringent economy had obtained else
where. The expenses, he said, had been made
up by the voluntary and unpaid services of
persons connected with the Smithsonian Insti-
iutlcn and by the Institution having furnished
the PARK with its Office rooms rent free and in
other ways which could not possibly be con-
sldered as the basis OF permanent administra-
ton.
The secretary further mentioned the insult
hc;ent provisions for purely administrative
purpose of government bureaus i'll connection
with those Of the Smithsonian Institution.
these expenses now falling chiefly upon the
Smithsonian fund. while they should unques-
tlonably be a public charge.
LETTER TO CONGRESS.
letter from Prof. Langley in relation to
estimates for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1898, was sent to Congress yesterday. In ref
erence to the 200" the letter says the mini
mum expenditures for the present year under
the item of maintenance will be so. 622. II.
The expenses for the first six months were
si4 26s %, or at the rate of SIS, 1916 per
mum. With an appropriation OF Sl7,5OO, he
SAID. it would be impossible to properly care
for and feed the animals now on hand.
The letter says: In view Of increased ex-
pen6cs since the estimates were prepared due
directly to the unexpectedly great popular i'll
terest manifested il the park and to the extra
ordinary increase Of visitors, now feel COM
PEELED either to increase the estimate for MAIN
teEance to $4,000 TO cover further contin-
gencies or to ask that the total appropriation
required for the park be made in such form as
to allow certain discretionary power to meet
them. II. under the circumstances stated, the
latter would. i'll your Judgment, be the more
advisable course, would respectfully ask that
you recommend to Congress that these three
items OF improvements (SZO,0y0), buildings
l@2',OJO). and maintenance (SZ6UO0D he ap-
propriated in the one sum Of 1880