REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 3 



In accordance with, the al)ove resohition the Hoard met on Decem- 

 ber S, 1903, January 27, 11)04, and IVIarch T, l!»0-l:. 



The followino- is an abstract' Of its proc(>edinos, wliich latter will ]>e 

 found in the annual report of the Board to C^onures.s: 



Regiihtr meeting of Deveiiihcr S, WO-L 



Senator Piatt and the Chancellor made statements with reg'ard to the 

 new l)nilding" for the National Museum, and the Secretary read a repoi't 

 which showed that with the advice and consent of the Chancellor and 

 the chairman of the executive committee, as required by the resolution 

 of the Board adopted March 12, 1903, a contract had ]>een made, under 

 date of May 18, 1903, with Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, architects, 

 of Washing-ton, D. C, for the necessary architectural services. 



With regard to the special report of the executive connnittee as sub- 

 mitted by Doctor Bell, and tlie rei)ortof the special connnittee which was 

 read at length by the Chancellor, the l^oard. after discussion, adopted 

 resolutions })r()\iding for the printing of these reports and their dis- 

 tribution to the members of the Board. 



The Secretar}" presented the compilation of laws which had ])een 

 prepared in accordance with a I'esolution ottered l)y Senator CVx-krell 

 at the meeting of ^Nlaj'ch 12, 1903, and the manuscript was referred to 

 Senator Cockrell for his examination and decision as to printing. 



The Secretary read letters from the Hon. William Henry Bishop, 

 United States consul at Cenoa, Italy, and from the connnittee of the 

 British burial ground fund, explaining the urgency of action with 

 regard to the removal of the remains of .rames Smithson. 



Doctor Bell renewed the proposition Avhich he made at the last 

 meeting that the remains of Smithson be brought to this country 

 at his expense, and after discussion the Board adopted the following- 

 resolutions: 



^^ Resolred, That Di". A. (Iraham Bell be appointed as a committee 

 to take charge of the matter of the removal of the remains of James 

 Smithson from Genoa to Washington, with the request that the nego- 

 tiations and removal be conducted quietly and privately. 



'•/i*(.syVvvy/, That upon the condusion of this duty all expenses in- 

 volved b}' it be reimbursed to Doctor Bell from the funds of the 

 Institution." 



ANNUAL MEETIXC OF JANUARY 27, 1904. 



The Secretary announced that on January 12 the S])eaker of the 

 House had reai)])ointed Ei^presentatives Hitt, Adams, and Dinsmoreas 

 Regents for two years; and also that Senator Henderson and Dr. A. 

 Graham Bell had been reappointed for a tci'in of six years b\- joint 

 resolution ap|)r()ved by the President fbmuary 27, 1904. 



The usual resolution relative to income and expenditure was adopted, 

 and the Secret^ary presented his annual rejjort of the operations of the 



