Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21
ITS ANNUAL SESSION
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
MEETS IN THIS CITY.
The Morning Hour Devoted to Associa-
ton Business-Two Public
Meetings Today.

The National Academy of Sciences met
in annual convention this morning shortly
after IL o'clock in the office of Mr.. Rich
ard Rathbun. assistant secretary In charge
of the National Museum. The first section
of the meeting was devoted to the dis
cussion of the business of the association
only and was held behind closed doors.
with President Alexander Agassiz of Cam
bridge. Mass, in the chair. The business
meeting continued about an hour. The
academy assembled this afternoon at
o'clock in public session in the main lecture
hall, during the course of which scientific
papers were read. Another public session
will be held this afternoon at ocloc. The
annual meeting of the academy will con-
tinue through three or four days, an execu-
tive business session being held each morn
ing and two public sessions in the after
noon.
The American Academy of Sciences was
organized under act of Congress APP
proved March 3. 1863, and includes among
it's members some of the most distinguish
ed scientists in the world. Its officers are
Prof. Alexander Agassiz OF Camorldge'
Mass, president; Prof. Asaph Hall of Nor
folk, Conn. vice president; DIR. Ira Rem
sen president of the Johns Hopkins Uni
versity Baltimore. Md, foreign secretary;
DR.. Arnold Hague of this city, home sec
rotary. and Mr.. S. F. Emmons of this city,
secretary. There are eighty-seven Amerf-
can members of the academy and twenty
seven foreign associate members. Almost
every scientist of prominence in the coun-
try is on the membership rolls while the
foreign associates include the eminent men
of learning of other countries.
Objects Of the Organization.
The academy was organized for the pur-
pose of carrying on such Investigations, eX-
periments and examinations in the field
of science as it may elect, and it is pro-
vided in the act of Congress incorporating
the organization that when called upon by
the government the organization shall In
vestigate, examine and report upon such
subjects of science and art as may be
selected. the expenses of such inVesuga-
ton to be borne by the government but
the members of the academy are TO re-
ceive no compensation whatever for their
services. 1t is also provided that the an
nual reports of the academy shall be pub
lished as Senate and House documents.
Two meetings are held each year, IN
April and November. The law provides
that the April meeting shall be held In
this city,, while the place of meeting for
the November session is left to the coun-
Gil OF the academy.
The committee that has charge of the
program for the present meeting has ar
ranged for a long list of papers of more
than passing interest. Reports from COM
mittees will be made from time to time
curing the meeting, anu HuISudy IL 10
expected, the academy will pass upon appli-
cations for membership. Several applica-
tons await the action of the full meeting
and will be brought forward by the sec
rotary at the proper time.
The entire time of the meeting this morn
ing was taken up with the reading of re-
ports from committees. AS stated, the as
semblage was behind closed DOORS but it
is understood that nothing of public in
terest was touched upon in the reports.
Papers to Be Discussed.
The list of papers to be read, which will
receive additions from time to time during
the meeting follows: An Estimate of the
Weight of the Skeleton in the Sauropoda
in the Sauropodous Dinosaurs" Henry
F. Osborn; New Characters of the Skulls
of Carnivorous and Herbvorous Dino
saurs." Henry F. Osborn: Models Illus
trating the Evolution of the Amblypoda,
also of the Dinosaur Diplodocus Together
with a Theory to the Habits of the
Sauropoda." Henry F. Osborn; "Radioac-
tivity of Thorium Minerals" George F.
Barker; THE Law of Catalysis in Concen-
trated Solutions j. M. Crafts; The
Standardization of Thermometric Measure
ments,' j. NJ. Crafts; 'The Rumford Spec
troheliograph of the Yerkes Observatory
George E. Hale; THE Determination of
Standard NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Free from the
Personal Equation, for Star-magnitude"
with stereopticon illustrations) Lewis
Boss; ION the Semi-diurnal Tide of the
Northern Part of the Indian Ocean," r. A.
Harris, introduced by Cleveland Able;
THE Melting Point of a Simple Glass;"
Arthur L. Day. introduced by G. F. Beck
err; Biographical Memoir of ]. E. Hol-
brook" Theodore Gill; Biographical Me-
moir Of Matthew Carey Lea" George F..
Barker; Biographical Memoir of Clarence
King" S. F. Emmons; Biographical Me-
moir of A A. Could" Jeffries Wyman,
read by w. H. Dali.