JOINT COMMISSION. 



A temporary joint committee, appointed for the purpose of 

 considering the advisability of forming a permanent joint com 

 mittee, submitted the following report to each of the five societies 

 concerned : 



WHEREAS, There now exist in Washington several scientific 

 societies, organized with similar aims, working by similar meth 

 ods, composed largely of the same members, and meeting in the 

 same place ; and 



Whereas, Matters of common interest are numerous and con 

 stantly increasing : therefore it is 



Resolved, That it is the sense of this committee, that it is advis 

 able to form a Joint Commission of the Anthropological, Biolog 

 ical, Chemical, Geographic and Philosophical Societies of Wash 

 ington to consider questions of common interest; 



That such Joint Commission shall consist of three representa 

 tives from each of the five Societies ; 



That its functions shall be advisory, except' that it may execute 

 instructions on general subjects, and in special cases, from two or 

 more of the Societies participating ; 



Provided, That no Society shall be bound by the Commission 

 to an act as to which it has not given instruction. 



The above resolution resulted in the establishment of a perma 

 nent Joint Commission, composed of the following delegates : 



Anthropological Society. 

 ROBERT FLETCHER, 

 WASHINGTON MATTHEWS, 

 F. A. SEELY. 



Chemical Society. 

 J. H. KIDDER, 

 F. W. CLARK, 

 H. W. WILEY. 



Biological Society, 

 WILLIAM H. DALL, 

 C. HART MERRIAM, 

 RICHARD RATHBUN. 



National Geographic Society. 

 GARDNER HUBBARD, 

 HENRY GANNETT, 

 JOHN R. BARTLETT. 



Philosophical Society. 



GARRICK MALLERY, 

 J. W. POWELL, 

 MARCUS BAKER. 



VI 



