New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-09-08

worthy one Its foundation was the tardy reai'-
cation of the wishes Of an Engllshmnn or wealth..
James Lewis Marcie. who afterward assumed
the name OF SmithsOn. BY the terms or MS VIII
he bequeathed his whole property to the uhi'ed
States to found at Washington. under the name
of the Smithsonian Institution. IAN estaDnsh-
'ment for the increase and diffusion of knowl-
edge" For six years after Sinithsons death' III
1920. his estate was held in chancery by the
English courts. but the last legal objections were
finally brushed away. and In 1898 1Oi980 sOver-
eiYns were turned over to the United States
Government as the first nstalment of the Smith
son legacy. Subsequent insaments and re-
minage increased the total gift to SGJO,OOO IN
United States coin. Congress let the money liz
in the Treasury for eight years before deciding
to found the present Institution. whose objects
were declared to be to assist scientific men IN
making researches. TO publish the results of such
researches. and to distribute its publications
throughout the civilized and scientific world.
The government of the Institution was vested in
n Board of Regents consisting of the President,
the c-Prcsidcnt. the Chief Justice Of the SUI
preme Court. three Senators and two Representa-
tves in Congress and Ave citizens appointed by
the President from private lfe Its income was
drawn originally from the interest of n fund. not
to exceed S1.OOO.OOO. deposited in the United
States Treasury; but it now has power tn re-
ceve and administer funds from any and all
sources.
The history Of the Institution under its three
illustrous secretaries Joseph Henry, Spencer +.
Baird and s. p. Langleyis too familiar to need
rehearsal II has been a record of constant public
benefit and genuine scientific achievement. Tn
der the fostering care of these three scientists
the present National Museum has been estab-
lished and Congress has also been led to found
and put Under its direction kindred scientific bu-
reaus like those of American Ethnology and AS
tro-Physical Research, as we'll as to open in
Washington the present some what experimental
National Geological Park. The indirect influence
OF the Smithsonian Institutions example and
management has. also, undoubtedly been felt in
the great extension of genuine scientific research
in many other bureaus and departments of the
Government
That n National institution like the Smith
sonian, brought into being through the unex-
pected and not wholly welcomed generosity of
an alien subject looked on at Its start
useless, if not illogical excrescence on the
Federal administrative body. should in fifty
years have adapted itself so completely to Amer
can needs and Governmental methods. and even
through its silent influence have enlarged and
extended the narrower scope of Federal activities
known 10 the statesmen of earlier generations. is
overpowering evidence at of the skill with
which its work of the last fifty years has been
done. and Of the genuine benciccnce and far
sighted sagacty Of the men who laid its founda-
tons May the Institution retain for another
half-century the respect and appreciation it has
won both at home and abroad. and continue to
reflect well-mered credit on the American polit-
cal and scientific name.