Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-04
To SUCCEED LANGLEY
Henry Fairfield Osborn Elected
Today.
WELL KNOWN IN THIS CITY
New Secretary of the Smithsonian
Institution.
"A SCIENTIST BY CHOICE
SCIENTIST BY CH0It
Recently Professor in Columbia Uni
versity-His Scientific Work Both
in Exploration and Writing.

Henry Fairfield Osborn, recently pro-
fessor of biology of Columbia University,
New York, was today elected by the re-
gents of the Smithsonian Institution secre-
tary of the institution, succeeding the late
Prof. Samuel Pierpont Langley. Prof. Os-
born Is wealthy, but has made silence his
life work and recreation. He is well known
socially in Washington, and Is, of course,
well known both personally and through
his scientific work to the scientists of the
Smithsonian. The selection is generally re-
garded as quite as good as could have
been made. Prof. Osborn has not yet ac-
cepted the position. but it Is thought that
he will. He was offered the assistant sec
retaryship Of the institution by Prof. Lang
ley at the time of Prof. Brown Goode' s
death, but declined, preferring to continue
his zine of original research. Being indie
pendent financially, the salary Of $4,000
which the position carries is no particular
inducement, but the position, while invoiv-
Ing hard and continuous work, Is one that
not many scientific men would be likely to
refuse.
Members Present.
The meeting of the regents at the Smith
sonian today found all the members present
except DIR. Angel Of Michigan. There were
Chief Justice Fuller, Vice President Fair
banks, Senators Cul!om. Lodge and Bacon,
Representatives Da;zell. Mann and How
ard. Dr. Andrew D. White, Ex-Secretary
Olney, Judge Gray of Delaware, John B.
Henderson and Prof. Alexander Graham
Bell. The new members were Mr.. Dalzell
and Mr.. Mann, appointed In course of law
to succeed Representative Hit and Repre-
sentative Adams, who had died since the
last meeting.
The only business Of interest transacted
was the election of the secretary and the
presentation of resolutions of regret at the
deaths of the two members of the board.
The selection of Prof. Osborn as the sec
rotary was by no means a surprise. He had
declined some time ago to be a candidate
for the place, but among the names of the
several eligible men who were considered
by the board, none were candidates. That
fact was enough to put the serious consid-
GRAFTON of their names out of the question.
1t was very generally thought that Prof.
Osborn would be selected, and a forecast
to this effect was made in The Star some
months ago.
The New Secretary.
Prof Osborn is by no means the popular
conception of a noted scientist. He does not
wear his hair long, does not affect a flow
ing tie. nor cultivate dandrufr on his coat
collar He is probably worth a couple of
million dollars, can afford to buy good
clothes likes to and knows how to wear
them. He Is rather tall and good looking,
with light meustache, and is cheerful
and approachab'e sort of person. AS has
been said, he is well known in Washington
both socially and scientifically.
The Late Members.
The death was announced of Representa-
tive Robert Adams. jr., and the following
resolution, offered by DIR. A. Graham Bell,
was adopted:
1.-THE board Of regents of the Smithsonian
Institution have learned with profound re-
greet of the death on June 1, 1906, of tae
Hon. Robert Adams, jr.. United States rep
resentative from Pennsylvania for ten
years a member of the board, and here
place upon record expression of their
deep sorrow at his loss, and an appreciation
of his earnest interest in the welfare of the
institution and of his labors on its be-
half both at the meetings of the board and
in the House of Representatives
Resolved, That a copy of this minute
be spread upon the records of the board and
communicated to the family Of Mr.. Adams
1.-The chancellor then announced the death
on September 20. 1906. at Narragansett
Pier, of Representative Robert Roberts
Hit, regent of the institution.
The following resolution, submitted by
Senator Cullom. was adopted:
1.-The board of regents of the Smithsonian