Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-20
DANES HO[OOR. COOK;
| PEARY COURT NAMED
Continued from First Page.)


tent scientific commission in the United
States.
At later meeting the board Joined
in the request from the American Mu-
scum of Natural History New York.
and the American Geographical Society
to President Ira Remsen that he, as
president of the National Academy OF
Sciences appoint a commission to pass
upon the records of Commander Peary
and DIR. Cook. DR.. Remsen stated that
he would not be able to appoint such
a commission unless authorized by his
council, which meets late in November.
and unless also requested to do so by
both Commander Peary and Or. Cook.
Peary Wiling; Cook Unable.
Commander Peary was willing to abide
by such a commission. Dr. Cook stated
that his observations would go first to
the University of Copenhagen.
In view of the fact that Commander
Peary had been waiting since his return
to submit his records to a scientific COM
mission in the United States. the National
Geographic Society believed It would re-
ceive his papers now. In order that his
claim of having reached the pole may be
passed upon without further delay.
The society is ready to make a similar
examination of DR.. Cooks original OBJ
servatiOns and field notes. But, as he
promised to send them to the University
of Copenhagen, and the society will not
have an opportunity of seeing them for
probably some months, it did not seem
fair to defer action on Commander
Pearys observations until DR.. Cooks
papers We're received by the society.
The only question now to be decided by
the society Is whether or not Commander
Peary reached the pole April 6, 1909. as
claimed
The following cablegram has been re-
ceived by the society from the University
of Copenhagen in reply to the society $
request that the University of Copen-
hagen waive it's first claim to DR.. Cook s
records:
October 20. 1909.
National Geographic Society. Washing
ton:
University regrets not able comply with
"TORP, Rektor."
lilo am"
Qualifications of Committee.
Henry Gannett, chairman of the COM
mittee. has been chief geographer. United
States geological survey. since 1882. He
is the author of Manual Of Topographic
Surveying" Statistical Aliases of the
Tenth and Eleventh Censuses." ''Diction-
airy Of Attitudes" Magnetic Declination
in the United States.'' Stanford's Com
pendulum of Geography and of many gov
eminent reports. Mr.. Gannett Is vice
president of the National Geographic So
ciety and was one of the founders Of the
society in 1888.
Rear Admiral Colby NJ. Chester, u. S.
NJ. was graduated from the United States
Naval Academy in 1863. He has held
practically every important command un-
der the Navy Department., including SUI
perintendent of the United States naval
| observatory. commander-in-chief Atlantic
squadron. superintendent Of the United
States Naval Academy, and chief of the
photographic division, y. 8. n. Admiral
Chester has been known for many years
as one Of the best and most particular
navigators in the service.
o. H. Tittman has been superintendent
Of the United States coast and geodetic
| survey since 1900 He is the member
for the United States of the Alaskan
boundary commission and was one of the
founders of the National Geographic So
ciety.