Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-12
EXALTED ABOVE ALL
Head of Smithsonian Now to Be
Chosen.
IS APPOINTED FOR LIFE
Neither President Nor Congress Can
Remove Him.
TITLE OF A CABINET OFFICER
Story of the United States Mother
Hen of Science and the Sad Life
of It's Founder.
TITLE OF A CABINET OFFICER
Copyright, 1905. by John EIfreth watkins)

Copyright, 1906, by John Elfreth Watkins)
At their annual meeting TO be held, &C
cording to statute, on the fourth Monday
of January the regents of the Smithsonian
Institution are expected to elect Secretary
s. 2. Langley's successor as secretary and
directive head of that great scientific es-
Enlistment.
The new secretary will be the ranking
scientist of the realm His exalted position
will assure him greater prestige and in
fluence than could the presidency Of any
university or of any scientific institution of
the new world. Prof. Joseph Henry, while
serving as the first secretary of the Smith
sonian, declined the presidency of Princeton
at double his salary. Prof. Langley's sue
cessor will be Uncle Sans tutor and chief
advisor on scientific matters, his guardian
over the sacred treasures and works of
science, which it were unsafe to intrust to
the hands OF men dominated by political
motives. He will enjoy the privileges of the
floor of the Senate and like cabinet Of
ficer will be officially addressed as Mr..
Secretary" He will draw a salary of
$500 year, If the regents elect to allow
him the same compensation as drawn by
Prof. Langley at the time of his DEATH
At state functions held at the White
House or elsewhere he will, according to
the established order of precedence, take
federal court of claims and before the brig
adler generals of the army.
A Veritable Potentate.
No other parsonage in the official life OF
the capital will enjoy position more in
dependent, unless 1t be the chief justice
himself. Neither the President nor Con-
gross will have the power to remove him.
clique or clan of politicians can disturb
him, and he will not be beholden to Con-
gress for his salary. He need bow his head
to no earthly authority other than the
board of regents of the Smithsonian In
stitution" which elects him. and although
this body has the power to remove him
his appointment Is understood to be for life,
as was that of each of his predecessors.
lie will not only be the secretary, but the
principal executive officer of the board of
regents, which consists of the Vice Presi-
dent. chief justice, three senators Cap
pointed by the president of the Senate),
three representatives appointed by the
Speaker and two citizens of Washington,
together with four distinguished citizens
of separate states (appointed by joint reso-
luton of Congress).
The meetings of the regents are presided
over by the chief justice, designated as its
chancellor and there is also an ''eXecu-
tive committee" of the board consisting of
three regents. The regents are supposed
to receive the advice and instruction" of
higher body, the establishment" consist
ing of the President of the United States.
' Ice lTeSlueutr clhe1 justice, CdDlnet ana
several honorary members. The establish
ment" used TO meet at stated intervals, the
President of the United States presiding
but has not been called together for thirty
years. and as a factor in the affairs of the
institution II has become obsolete. In
spite of all of this formidable organization
the secretary's administration of the insti-
tuition is practically supreme. He is really
the director of the institution, the title of
secretary having been originally adopted
because in Washington il designates the
highest grades of executive responsibility
below the President of the United States
The new secretary will make all appoint
ments on the staff of the institution, Will
bc responsible for its funds and the custo-
dian OF its property and treasures.
Although the guardian of many govern
ment interests and the administration Off
Ger over hundreds of government employees
he will be neither government official nor
will he receive government salary. The
Smithsonian Institution is Il corporation en-
dowcd by a private fund administered by
the government, whose acceptance of such