SPECIAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 155 



forget this, as it will greatly assist me in determining the exact character 

 to be given to the statue. 



"I have written you a very long letter in the hope of clearing the way 

 of all obstacles, and of letting you understand exactly what my views 

 and wishes are. 



"Yours, faithfully, 



"W. W. STORY." 



During the recess of Congress it was found impracticable to call a 

 meeting of the Eegents, but their views were asked individually by the 

 Secretary as to the power of the Executive Committee to make a formal 

 contract with the artist and enable him to go on with the work. 



The opinion of the majority was that this power could be exercised 

 by the Executive Committee. A meeting was therefore called of this 

 Committee on the 13th of November, 1880, when the subject was fully 

 considered and the following action taken : 



^^ Resolved, That the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution inform 

 Mr. Story that the Executive Committee authorize him to proceed in 

 the execution of the bronze statue ordered by Congress June 1, 1880, 

 according to his own plan and designs, but that this Committee is not 

 empowered to make a formal contract for this purpose, although war- 

 ranted in such action by the individual expressions of Eegents as con- 

 tained in letters received by the Secretary. 



'•''Resolved, That a special meeting of the Regents be called on the 8th 

 of December, 1880, to consider the subject, and if the action of the Ex- 

 ecutive Committee is not confirmed, a cable message be immediately 

 sent to Mr. Story, and, if approved, a contract in due form be made out 

 and transmitted to him." 



This action of the Committee was communicated to Mr. Story by the 

 Secretary on the 13th of l^ovember. 



Another subject demanding the consideration of the Board has been 

 presented to the Executive Committee. 



A committee of citizens of Washington having presented a request 

 for the use of the new National Museum building for a reception to the 

 President of the United States elect, on the 4th of March next, after a 

 full consideration of the subject, in view of the fact that the building is 

 unfinished and not yet occupied as a Museum, and that such a contin- 

 gency would not again occur and would not therefore furnish a prece- 

 dent ; in view also of the fact that the expense of erecting a suitable 

 building would be very great and unnecessary, and, moreover, that the 

 President elect is and has been for many years a member of the Board 

 of Eegents, whose aid and influence contributed materially to the erec- 

 tion of the new Museum, the Committee adopted the following : 



" Whereas an application has been received from a committee of citi- 

 zens for the use of the unfinished budding of the National Museum, for 



