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 vSociety 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 Geograph'ic Society. 

 GARDNER HUBBARD, 

 HENRY GANNETT, 

 JOHN R. BARTLETT. 



Philosophical Society.' 



GARRICK MALLERY, 

 J. W. POWELL, 

 MARCUS BAKER. 



VI 



