XXXV1 CHARLES OTIS WHITMAN 
tigators at an estimated cost of $3,000. Professor Whitman 
organized the investigators of the Laboratory into a Biological 
Association to work for the needed building. This Association 
pledged $1,500 towards the cost of the new building, and the trus- 
tees finally agreed to secure anequal sum. The building was erected 
in 1896, and has been fully occupied ever since, thus justifying 
Whitman’s estimate of the needs of the Laboratory. But this 
plan left the debt for previous buildings still outstanding. ‘‘Sub- 
sequent events showed that Doctor Whitman raised the whole of 
the $3,000, besides the money needed for equipment, and the trus- 
tees did not as a body raise anything; although a few individuals 
who were supporters of Doctor Whitman and his policy raised a 
few hundred dollars’? (from ‘“‘A Reply to the Statement of the 
Former Trustees of the Marine Biological Laboratory,’ 1897, 
p. 8). 
While it is perhaps undesirable to revive old controversies, yet 
it seems needful in justice to Doctor Whitman, to state the issues 
of the years 1896-1897, with the dispassionateness which fourteen 
elapsed years should furnish. It was never true that a majority 
of the board of trustees lost confidence in, or were out of sympathy 
with Doctor Whitman; but a minority of the board, who neverthe- 
less constituted the governing element by virtue of their original 
membership and residence in Boston where all the meetings were 
held, were much displeased with him for not listening respect- 
fully enough to their motives of caution, and for his dominance 
in Laboratory affairs. The existence of a small deficit in the 
operating expenses of the year 1896 led them to declare that the 
Laboratory should not be opened in 1897, unless a sum of $2,000 
were raised not later than April 15. This sum was much in excess 
of the deficit and the vote was not taken until February 5, 1897. 
An offer on the part of one of the trustees, Mr. L. L. Nunn, to 
bear any added deficit resulting from operations of 1897, was re- 
fused. The trustees raised the sum of $1,140 by April 12, and 
the treasurer reported on May 5 that there was a balance in the 
treasury of $735.55; there was also about $670 accumulated 
interest in funds available for any purpose the trustees might 
approve. The deficit in the meantime had melted away. The 
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