The morning times., 1895-09-08

| plan OF the building now occupied, and
elected TO the secretaryship Prof Joseph
Henry, who had prepared and submitted
the plan OF organization.
Prof q. Brown Goode, assista Mt secre-
tary OF the institution, has just completed
carefully complied publication of thirty
| eight pages which is the most eXhaus
and authentic statement published of
the aims and objects of the institution,
its origin and history, its establishment
and regents. This publication is intended
for distribution at the Alta nta Exposition,
! and viii serve as descriptive label to
TO accompany the collective exhibit of tue
institution and its dependencies.
The Times has kindly been furnished with
advance proofs of Prof. Goodies publica-
ton and is consequently able 10 lay be-
! fore its readers some valuable and Of
| ficial Information relative 10 the institu-
/ ton.
Little did James Smithson imagine that
! he was approNimating prophecy when he
| wrote: THE best blood of England flows in
| my veins: on my fathers side / am
| Northumberland, on my mothers l am
! related to kings, but this avails me not
| My name shall live in the memory OF man
when the titles OF the NorthumbeHands
! and the Perceys are extinct and forgotten"
JAMES sMITHsON's WILL
In 1926 Mr.. Smithson made the follow
ing Will: Il bequeath the whole of my
property OF the United States OF America,
TO found, at Washington, under the name OF
the Smithsonian Institution, an establish
nlent for the increase and diffusion Of
! knowledge among men" AT that time this
city was a town OF 5000 inhabitants.
In 1885 the United States was formally
notified that a half million dollars, repre-
scnting Smithson's estate, was held in os-
I session Of the accountant general of the
British court of chancery.; There was
| immediate and violent opposition to the
acceptance Of this bequest. Eminent states
men, led by Calhoun and Preston, argued
that it was beneath the dignity Of the
United States to receive presents, and
that the donor was seeking Immortality
for too modest an equivalent
AT length the legacy was accepted, and
when coined into Amcrican money amount
ed to S5OS, Bis 40. ~This was increased by
subsequent collections and judicious in-
vestments to S91I,O which is now held
as a deposit at per cent, in the United
States Treasury, besides $4,000 other
/ wise invested.
For eight years this sum OF money lay
I In the Treasury, while Congress discussed
! the question of its utilization. Every i'm
aginable disposition of the legacy was pro-
I posed. Finally ii was decided to establish
an institution of scientific research and in
! vestigation. a board OF thirteen regents
was appointed and charged with the work
/ Prior to the first meeting Of the board
of regents Prof. Joseph Henry was re-
auested TO examine the viii of Smithson
and suggest plan of organization by
which, in his opinion, the object OF the be-
quest might be best realized. He pre-
pared his plan on the conviction that the
intention of the donor was TO advance sci
ence by original research and publication;
! that the establishment was for the benefit
| of mankind generally, and that all unnec-
| essary expenditures on local objects would
be violations OF the trust. Prof. Henry
was schosenfirst secretary of oftheSmithsonian
| Institution, and from the age of Al to
| that OF 70 he merged his life in that Of the
| institution. His statue, erected by order
| of Congress, stands in the adjoining park.
IT'S FORMER SECRETARIES.
Upon the death of Prof Henry In 1873
he was succeeded by Prof. Spencer Fuller
ton Baird, at that time the leading authority
on the mammals, birds, fishes, and reptiles
of America, the founder OF the United
States Fish Commission and primary
advocate of public fish culture.
Ten years later, in 1888, Samuel Pier
pont Langley, pre- eminent as physicist and
astronomer, the inventor of the bolomctcr,
the discoverer of the greater portion Of
the infra-red spectrum, and the highest au-
thority upon the physics Of the atmosphere,
was elected secretary, and now holds
that position.
Each OF the three secretaries, in addition
TO his general administrative work, has
made some feature of the general plan pc.
culiarly his own. Prof. Henry gave especial
attention to the publications, the system
of International exchanges, and the de-
velopment of that great system of me-
teorological observation and weather pre-
diction which has siuce become the weather
bureau.
Secretary Baird continued the develop
ment of the museum, which had been under
his special charge during his twenty y-seven
years of service as assistant secretary, Sc
cured the erection of the new museum build
ing, gave much attention to geological and
chronological explorations, and, in con-
Dection with his special work as Com
missioner of Fisheries, secured the construc.
ton of the exploring ship Albatross, and
arried on extensive Investigations in
American waters.
To Secretary Langley is due the establish.
ment of the National Geological Park and OF
the Astrophysical Observatory, renewed
activity IN the library and exchange work
and a new system of encouragement OF
original research in the physical as well
as the biological sciences. Under his ad
ministration, also, important donations
and bequests have been added to the per
maDent fund of the Institution.
FIRST ACT OF CONGRESS-.
The Smithsonian Institution was formally
established by the act of Congress, approved
August 10, 1864. AS defined in the act
of establishment, it is composed of the
President of the United States, who is
presiding officer ex officio; the Vice
President, the members of the Cabinet, and
the chief justice of the Supreme court;
and the establishment" thus constituted
is made responsible for the duty of 1.-THE
increase and diffusion of knowledge among
men,"
In addition to the establishment" the
act provides for board of regents" by
whom the business of the institution is
administered, composed of the Vice Presi.
dent of the United States, the chief justice
of the Supreme Court, three members of
the Senate, and three members of the
House of Representatives, and six citizens,
no two Of whom may be from the same
State, although two must be residents of