Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-11
OFFICERS REVIEW
SMITHSONIAN YEAR
Board of Regents Annual
Session HeId-Senator
Mccormick on Board.

The board of regents of the Smith
sonfan Institution held its annual
meeting at the Smithsonian building
today.
Reports of the secretary and execu-
tive and permanent committees were
read. The regents present at the
meeting were: Chirf I +tce White.
presiding: Vice President Marshall,
Senator Lodge. Representatives Pad
gett and Greene, DR.. Alexander Gra-
ham Bell, George Gray. Charles +.
Choate jr.; John Z. Henderson AMI
Secretary Charles ID. Wa,cott.
The secretary announced the ap-
pointment by the Vice President OF
Senator Medill Mccormick as a regent
to succeed Senator Hollis; the reap
pointment Of .e ., Of '-1aware
by joint resolution of Congress. and
the appointment of Robert S. Brook
ings of Missouri by joint resolution as
a citizen regent to fill the vacancy
caused by the death of Charles War
rem Fairbanks. Judge Gray was re
elected chairman of the executive
committee.
Expeditions Reviewed.
Mr.. Walcott reviewed in his report
the expeditions sent out by the insti-
tuition to various parts of the world.
He called particular attention to the
two African expeditions. one OF the
French Kongo for the purpose of get
ting mammals and birds and Specl-
mems of great apes for the museum.
and the other to explore the Cap,
region. Rhodesia. Belgian kougo, Ger
man East Africa and the Uganda Pro-
tectorate, also with the idea OF OIL
tanning specimen.
The National Museum received dur
ing the year total of $4,000 aces
siohs. the largest single addition be-
ing gift of more than 100000 Speci-
mems of Antillean land mollusks. pre-
scented by John b. Henderson. a re-
gent of the institution A large and
varied collection OF relics of the war
was acquired, perhaps the most In
teresting being the official battle map
used by Gen. Pershing and his staff
1t is hoped, eventually. to make this
collection of war relics one OF the
best in the country.
The museum also received large
number of anthropological, geological,
and other biological specimens.
The bureau OF American etnnologH
continued its work in studying and
recording the customs and languages
of the numerous Indian tribes. soma
of which are on the verge OF extinc-
ton and in excavating and repairing
prehistoric cliff dwellings. towers and
other aboriginal habitations. The bu-
reau distributed during the year
more than II, 900 of it's publications.
Two Million Visitors.
Visitors to the National Geological
Park during the year numbered about
100000, a daily average OF over
s. 900 The number of animals in tho
park is now 1895, representing 500
species. Important needs of the park
include an appropriation for the pur-
chase of a more extended 'front.' on
Connecticut avenue; new mouse lot
the proper exhibition of birds, and
funds for the continuation of grading
and filling to provide more space Tor
animal yards and Enclosures
The staff of the astrophysical OBJ,
servatory was largely occupied until
the signing of the armistice IN war
researches, valuable devices for the
ARMY being constructed and in process
of perfection. The usual OBSERVATIONS
Of solar radiation were continued AZ
Calama, Chile, and at Mount wilson.
Calf. The Argentine government now
receives daily cable information on
the solar radiation from the smith
sonian Calama station for use IN
weather and temperature predlctlohs.
international Exchange.
The secretary's report also reviewed
the activities of the international ex-
change service and the international
catalog of scientific literature, both un-
der the direction of the Smithsonian H.
stitrtion. a,
The secretary then announced the
death of Charles l.. Freer OF Detroit.
donor of the Freer Gallery OF Art.
giving a brief outline of the extent OF
the. collection, and stating that tho
building is now practically COM
pleted. He announced the arrival or
the famous peacock room, which VIII
soon be installed in the room special
ly designed for it in the Freer build
ing. Resolutions expressing the sor-
row Of the board at Mr.. Freer's death
were adopted.
The secretary also reported that the
rational art committee, organized tor
the purpose of securing portraits OF
leading figures in the war. to be ul-
timately deposited in the Smithsonian
Institufion. had secured several por-
traits by famous American artists,
including those of Marshal Foch.
King Albert. Cardinal Mercier. Field
Marshal Haig,. Gen. Diaz and Premier
Paderewski,