Evening star., 1915-12-27
Congress of Americanists
Would Have Uniform Laws
Governing Explorations.
SUGGESTS THE SURVEY
OF EXISTING REMAINS
Effort to Insure the Preservation o1
Antiquities Which Originated
With the Aborigines.

resolution introduced at the prelimt-
nary meeting today of the Nineteenth
International Congress Of Americanists.
held in the New National Museum
building. Another resolution urged the
| delegates to the congress to impress
upon their respective governments the
necessity Of early surveys of the fast
disappearing remnants Of the aborigi-
nal population. The resolutions were
| prepared by the organizing committee
| of the Washington congress and were
read by DR.. Ales Hrdlicka, who an
nounced that they would be discussed
| and acted upon at the final meeting OF
| the congress Friday.
The members of the Washington or
ganizing committee. the past presl,
| dents and general secretaries ATTENDED
| the morning meeting. The congress
| was inaugurated this afternoon At l:so
| o'clock at a meeting IN the auoltorium
| of the museum building.
| Miss Adela c. Breton Of London. Eng
land, secretary Of the eighteenth con-
gress, at the constituting meeting this
morning delivered the official authort-
| ty to hold this congress.
Recited in Preamble.
The preamble Of the resolution seek
ing uniform exploration laws recites
| that '.many parts Of the American con-
tinent are rich in archaeological re-
mains, such as ruins. monuments and
burial sites, containing many examples
of industry and art of the aborigines;
that scientific explorations OF these re-
mains, with the study Of resulting
finds, are objects OF utmost Importance,
sible to reconstruct the lost history Of
the American race: and, in order that
such remains may be saved to science
and not be wantonly exploited or De.
stroyed before they could be studied. 1t
lations be adopted bv the various coun-
tries where such remains exist.
THE object of such laws and regula-
tions should be to hinder or prevent
as far as possible the digging or other
destruction of such remains by un-
qualified persons; to prevent trade in
pottery and other articles recovered
from the ruins and graves: and at the
qualified scientific men both Indigenous
and Of other countries to undertake
and carry on scientific explorations and
collections.
publics have now some laws relating
to antiquities. but these laws are up-
like in the different countries and in
some instances are such that they have
resulted more in restraining than in
advancing properly qualified research"
The resolution for promoting an
thropologicai research says that in
various parts Of the American conti-
nent there are remnants of the aborig-
inal population, study Of which Is Of
great importance to science, and that
many OF these remnants are very i'm
perfectly known and are rapidly dis
appearing. II further points out that
tions. ethnoiosicai and physical. are
among the most precious scientific and
educational assets Of nation.
With the Permanent Bureau.
The following were elected to the
permanent bureau Of the current con-
gress:
Honorary vice presidents-Prof. Luis
Montana. delegate OF Cuba; DR..
Simoens da Silva. delegate of twenty
four institutions OF learning from
Brazil; Francisco ]. Yanes. delegate OF
Venesuela; Federico A. Pezet. delegate
Of Peru: Manuel Gamio. delegate Of
Mexico; DR.. Robert S. Woodward. pres
ident Of the Carnegie Institution OF
Washington: DR.. Samuel q. Dixon.
president of the Academy of Natural
Sciences Of Philadelphia; Dr.. William J.
Museum. Pittsburgh; Admiral Charles
H. Stockton, president of George
Washington University; Rt. Rev. T. J.
Shahan. president of the Catholic Uni
president of the National Geographic
Society; Edward X. Putnam, director
| of the Davenport Academy of Sciences.
Davenport. Iowa: DR.. Roland B. Orr.
Toronto, Canada: DR.. H. R. Rowland,
Society Of Natural Science. Buffalo.
Honorary secretaries-Luis Castillo.
delegate Of Mexico; DR.. G. B. Gordon. di-
rector of the University Museum. Phila-
delphia; DR.. Edgar L. Hewett. director
| Of the School OF American Archaeology.
Santa Fe, N. NJ. DR.. A. L. Kroeber. as
sistant professor Of anthropology and di-
rector Of anthropological museum. Uni
yersity Of Pennsylvania; DR.. George
can Anthropologicai Association, profess
sor of archaeology. Yale University; Dr.
Ernesto Quesada. delegate from the Museo
Nacional and Faeuldad de Filesoda y
Latras. Buenos Aires. Argentina: Mar
shall H: sayille. secretary Of the Thir-
teenth International Congress- Of Ameri-
| canists. professor of American archeol-
ogy. Columbia University; Dr.. Julio Tello,
omctal delegate Of Peru; William Thai
bitssr. Denmark: Rev. John Cooper. DIR.
A. N. Tozzer, g. G. Morley, Harlan /.
Smith. Rev. A. G.. Morice.
Welcoming Addresses and Responses
The first hour Of the inaugural meet
Ing this afternoon was given over to
addresses Of welcome on the part of
John W. Foster, former Secretary of
State, president of the congress; DR..
Charles D. Waicott. secretary OF
the Smithsonian Institution. and brief
speeches by the following delegates:
Argentina-Dr. Juan b. Ambrosetti,
professor de la faculdad de filosona v
letras, Universidad de Boenos Aires.
Brazil-Dr. Simoens de Silva (repre-
sents twenty-four institutions OF learn
ing in BraziD.
Canada--M. Alphonse Gagnon, secre-
tsry. department OF public works and
labor. Quebec. Canada: representative
OF the Quebec government.
China-Dr. Wellington Koo, minister
Of China to the United States
Cubs-Prof. Luis Montane of the
university of Havana.
Engiand-Miss Adele C. Breton, rep
resentative Of the Eighteenth Inter.
national Congress OF Americanists.
Greece-M. Alexandra C. vouros
charge de anaires Greek legation
Washington.
Guatsmala-Senor Joaquin Msndez,
envoy extraordinary and minister
iplenipotentiary, Washington.
|, Mexico-Manuel Gamio. inspector d.
monumentos aYqusologfcos. Mexico.
Peru-Federtco A. Pezet, envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipoten-
ltiary, Washington.
Sweden-Dr. Amandus johnson. pro.
Ia l. v~t~