2 KEPOKT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The pedestal of the statue, which was made in the United States, was 

 delivered in the early part of the year, but the statue itself did not 

 arrive from Kome until the end of December. It is hoped that the next 

 report to the Board will contain a notice of the successful erection of 

 this memorial. 



THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



The original law organizing the Smithsonian Institution provides for 

 vacancies of three members of the House and one member of the Sen- 

 ate at the end of each Congress, the successors to be appointed by the 

 Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate, respectively, in 

 the ensuing December. Although no special provision is made for res- 

 ignations, it would of course naturally be inferred that an appointment 

 to a vacancy of this kind should be for the period of the remainder of the 

 term of service of the former incumbent, as is the case in the United 

 States Senate. In fact, however, with some previous vacancies occur- 

 ring by death, or resignation of Senatorial position, the ser\dce was 

 continued for six years,' and with a result that all the Senate regencies 

 became vacant at the same time. By the appointment, however, of 

 Senator Hoar, on the 21st February, 1881, and of Senators Hill of (Colo- 

 rado) and Maxey (of Texas) on the 19th May, of the same year, the nor- 

 mal term of service was re-established, with vacancies occurring at inter- 

 vals of two years — the term of Senator Hoar expiring with his Senatorial 

 term, in March, 1883 5 of Senator Hill, in March, 1885 ; and of Senator 

 Maxey, in March, 1887. 



The existing vacancies of the House members were filled by the ap- 

 pointment of Hon. N. C. Deering, of Iowa ; Hon. B. B. Taylor, of Ohio ; 

 and Hon. S. S. Cox, of New York. 



The annual meeting of the Board was held on the 18th of January, 

 1882, and was attended by all the new regents. The Chief Justice, Mr. 

 Waite, referred to the loss the Institution and the whole country had 

 sustained in the untimely death of President Garfield, who had been 

 connected with the Board of Eegents with but little interruption since 

 18G3. 



The committee having in charge the erection of the new building au- 

 thorized by Congress for the reception and exhibition of the collections 

 of the Government, made a report that the work had been completed in 

 a satisfactory manner and within the amount of the appropriation. The 

 thanks of the Board were voted to the committee for the able and sat- 

 isfactory manner in which it had discharged its duties. 



The thanks of the Board were also tendered to General Montgomery 

 C. Meigs for his highly valued services as consulting engineer of the 

 National Museum Building Commission, in connection with the con- 

 struction of the fire-proof building for the Museum. 



Authority was given to the Secretary and the executive committee to 

 apply to Congress for an appropriation to render the east range and 



