The sun., 1908-12-16
CASH FOR THE AFRICAN TRIP
OBTAINED BY SMITHSONIAN AT
ROOSEVELT'S SUGGESTION.

The Heaviest Part Of the Expense OF the
Hunting Expedition VIII he Berne
by ssme Unnamed Contributor
Maybe Hp Andrew earn e sizes Aleney.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I5.-1t seems after
all that it was President Roosevelt who
proposed that the Smithsonian Institution
should bear at least part of the expense
Of his African trip and that the advances
we're not made by the Smithsonian. as
has appeared heretofore to be the case.
This version came out in offlcial form
to-day at a meeting Of the Smithsonian
Board Of Regents. An Official authorized
report OF the meeting shows that Mr..
Roosevelt took this step as long ago as
June 20 last although it did not become
known to the public until fortnight ago
that the Smithsonian Institution was to
have any part in the African hunting
trip or had been asked to have any part
in it,
The President wrote letter last June
proposing that the institution join with
him in the African enterprise. The off,
cial account Of to-day's meeting says:
The secretary received letter from
President Roosevelt dated June 10. 1908.
stating his intention of visiting Africa
after the expiration Of his term and offer
ing to give to the Smithsonian Institu-
-. L.. tba National Ngnsa,r, tba -
suits OF his expedition provided the
Smithsonian should send the necessary
naturalists to prepare and ship the ma
terial.
The offer was accepted by the secre-
tary and arrangements were at once made
by the secretary to provide funds for the
expenses of the Smithsonian represen-
tstives without using the Smithsonian
fund or money derived from any Govern
ment appropriation.
Upon motion Of the vice. president a
resolution was adopted conveying the
thanks Of the board to his very generous
offer and the acceptance OF the offer.
Afterward a further resolution was
adopted thanking the donors OF the
funds for the expedition"
A high estimate Of cost has been placed
on MIR. Roosevelt's . hunting trip. some con-
.tctures as to the expense being as great
AZ $3.50 A statement issued by the
Institution some days ago. after it had
teen approved by the President, said
hat the scientific expedition to Africa
sould be -outfitted' by the institution.
subsequent statement it was said
at Mr.. Roosevelt would pay his own ex-
Anses and those Of his son. but tnat the
rsck train outfit. &C., would be paid for
y the Smithsonian Institution. This
NJ course is by far the greatest expense
connected with the trip. and unless the
Smithsonian had been induced to take
part IN the enterprise Mr.. Roosevelt
would have been obliged TO bear the cost
himself
The account Of to-day's meeting says
that none OF the Smithsonian fund or of
funds provided by Congress is to be used
for the African trip. The source of the
funds is not stated, and whether they were
provided by Andrew Carnegie or by
some other person or persons interested
in the advancement of science is not
known. Il
The meeting to-day was attended by
the chancellor. Chief Justice Melville W.
Fuller, who presided. and by the following
regents; Vice-President Charles W. Fair
banks, Senator Shelby n. Cullon. Senator
Henry Cabot Lodge, Senator Augustus
y, Bacon. Representative James r. Mann.
Representative William NJ Howard. DR..
James B. Angel. DR.. Andrew d. White,
'ohn B. Henderson, DR.. Alexander Gra-
lam Bell, Charles r. Choate. DR.. and the
,ecretary, Charles ID. Walcott.
The appointment OF Charles F. Choate.
IT,, Of Massachusetts, as a citizen regent
place Of Richard 0lney. resigned. was
Fnnounced.
4 resolution was adopted establishing
medal to be known as the Langley
medal as tribute to the late Samuel
Pierpont Langley. third secretary Of the
smithsonian Institution. 70 be awarded
tor specially meritorious investigations
the science Of aerodromics and its
Npplication IN aviation