XVI PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



SPECIAI; REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



In the absence of the chairman of the executive committee Doctor 

 Bell made a verbal report of the action of the committee, in whicli he 

 included certain resolutions on which he asked the approval of the 

 Board. 



REPORT or SPECIAL COMMITTEE. 



The Chancellor then read at -length the report of the special com- 

 mittee appointed for the purpose of considering the question of 

 defining the powers of the executive committee, and after a discussion, 

 participated in by Senator Piatt, Doctor Bell, Senator Henderson, 

 and Judge Gray, Senator Henderson asked that the report might lie 

 over until the January meeting. 



The Chancellor suggested that it would be well to have the report 

 and the exhibit of the past acts of the executive committee printed 

 and communicated to the members of the Board. 



The follow^ing resolutions were then adopted : 



Resolved, That the report of the special committee, together with its exhibit, 

 be printed and distributed to the members of the Board of Regents, and called 

 up at the January meeting for action. 



Resolved, That the executive committee's report, as presented by Doctor Bell, 

 be printed and distributed to the members of the Board of Regents, and called 

 up at the .January meeting for action. 



COaiPILATION OF LAWS AFFECTING SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 



The Secretaiy presented the compilation of laws which had I)een 

 prepared in accordance with a resolution offered by Senator Cockrell 

 at the meeting of March 12, and adopted by the Board. 



On motion, the manuscript was referred to Senator Cockrell for 

 examination and decision as to printing. 



REMOVAL OF SMITHSON's REMAINS. 



The Secretary read a letter from the Hon. William Henry Bishop, 

 United States consul at Cienoa, showing the need of action in the 

 removal of James Smithson's remains, owing to the imminence of 

 the proposed demolition of the cemetery in which they reposed. 



Doctor Bell renewed the proposition which he made at the last 

 meeting that the remains of Smitlison be brought to this country at 

 his expense. 



After further remarks Judge Gray offered the following resolu- 

 tions, which were adopted : 



Resolved, That Dr. A. Graham 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 negotiations and removal be 

 conducted quietly and privately. 



