KEPORT OF THE SECRETARY 13 



Smith's investigation is the accumulation of specimens of reptiles 

 and amphibians from Mexico, on the basis of which, combined with 

 material already available from Mexico, a herpetology of Mexico 

 may be compiled and the biotic provinces of the country more 

 accurately defined. 



Reports received from Dr. Smith in the field state that collecting 

 began on October 5. Up to the close of the year he had worked in 

 Chihuahua, Coahuila, Tamaulipas, central Veracruz, Morelos and 

 Guerrero, as well as in the lakes of the valleys of Mexico and Toluca, 

 on the southern edge of the plateau in Michoacan, and in the vicinity 

 of Piedras Negras, Guatemala. Approximately 8,100 specimens had 

 been taken, representing 360 species, of which at least 10 were new. 



SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION EMPLOYIiES RETIREMENT SYSTEM 



The important matter of a retirement system for employees who 

 receive all or a portion of their salaries from the private funds of 

 the Institution was taken up during the year. Many of the Institu- 

 tion's employees and all those of the Government bureaus under its 

 administration receive their compensation from the Federal Govern- 

 ment, placing them automatically under the Government retirement 

 system. But for the remaining employees, who receive all their 

 compensation from private Smithsonian funds, there has been no 

 definite plan to cover retirement or disability. Nor has there been 

 any arrangement for supplementary benefits for those who receive 

 a part of their compensation from the Government and a part from 

 the Smithsonian. To remedy these conditions I asked a committee 

 of three employees to study the matter and draw up a plan for a 

 retirement system to cover such employees. 



In November 1938 such a plan was completed and submitted to 

 an actuary for expert opinion. With certain suggested modifica- 

 tions, the plan was pronounced to be sound. It was then presented 

 to the Permanent Committee of the Board of Regents, who recom- 

 mended to the Board that it be put into operation. The Board so 

 voted, and the retirement system therefore goes into effect on July 

 1, 1939. 



The Smithsonian retirement system is in its general plan modeled 

 on the Government system for Federal employees, but is modified 

 to meet the special conditions of a private foundation such as the 

 Smithsonian Institution. A retirement board is provided for, to be 

 appointed by the Secretary, which, with his approval, shall decide 

 questions arising under the operation of the retirement system. 



With the adoption of this system, the retirement for age or dis- 

 ability of every employee of the Institution and its branches is 

 definitely provided for. 



