FREER 
XXI 
facts to four of my colleagues, with a view to obtaining their 
prior approval. Doctor Freer's proposition was perfectly clear 
to me and I thought that I made it clear to them. They agreed 
to accept his offer as they understood it. With a majority of 
the Commission thus pledged to its acceptance, I informed him 
that it would be accepted, and he then immediately severed 
his connection with the University of Michigan by cable. A 
few days later when I requested definite official action by the 
Commission, I found to my consternation that two of the mem- 
bers with whom I had consulted had failed clearly to understand 
the terms on which Doctor Freer was willing to remain. When 
the matter came to a vote my action was not confirmed. I was, 
therefore, compelled to inform him that he would not be given 
the salary for which he had stipulated and that the fault of 
this unfortunate blunder lay entirely with me for the reason 
that I had failed to submit his proposition to my colleagues in 
writing and to secure on the face of the document their written 
approval. 
He immediately cabled to ascertain whether he could with- 
draw his resignation from the faculty of the University of 
Michigan, but before his message was received his place had 
been filled. 
It is a significant commentary on his character that, although 
he felt, rightly, that a grave injustice had been done him, he 
remained loyal both to the man who was primarily responsible 
for it and to the Government which he served. 
With the lapse of time the work conducted under his wise 
guidance rapidly and steadily developed. The Bureau of Gov- 
ernment Laboratories absorbed the Bureau of Mines, took up 
botany, ornithology, entomology, fisheries, cement testing, and 
other new lines of investigation, and thus became the Bureau of 
Science. It furnished its own light, power, steam, and gas so 
economically that it was required to perform these functions for 
the College of Medicine and Surgery and for the Philippine Gen- 
eral Hospital. These changes meant larger working quarters 
and a material addition to the power plant, which were provided 
under Doctor Freer's always competent and efficient direction. 
