XXVI PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 
on from a scientific point of view; also that it was desirable to state 
that the Smithsonian Institution was prepared to take charge of such 
researches, in accordance with its fundamental purposes—the increas- 
ing and diffusing of knowledge among men. 
(€) PRESERVATION OF NATIONAL ANTIQUITIES. 
The Secretary stated that under a recent action of the Secretaries 
of Agriculture, of War, and of the Interior, to whom had been dele- 
gated by law the authority to issue permits to secure antiquities from 
the lands under the control of the Government, an agreement had 
been reached to the effect that all applications for such permits should 
be referred to the Smithsonian Institution for recommendation. 
(f) MiInutTES AND NOTICE OF BUSINESS FOR MEETINGS. 
The Secretary stated that it was his intention to send to each 
Regent, in advance of a meeting, a program of the business to come 
before such meeting, in order that the Regent might be familiar with 
the subject before his arrival at the meeting. 
He also intended to send to those Regents absent from the meetings 
a copy of the Proceedings of such meetings, in order that all mght be 
kept constantly in touch with the business transacted, and also to send 
on the Ist of July, and perhaps quarterly, a statement of the financial 
condition of the Institution. 
(9) RESIGNATION FROM THE RECLAMATION SERVICE AND THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 
The Secretary stated that his resignation as Director of the Recla- 
mation Service had been transmitted in December to Secretary of the 
Interior Hitchcock, but that the latter had requested him to continue 
in charge until after March 4. Secretary Garfield had accepted the 
resignation to take effect March 8. 
The Secretary further stated that his resignation as Director of the 
Geological Survey was placed in the hands of the President on Janu- 
ary 25, but had not been acted upon, as the President wished him to 
remain in charge until after Mr. Garfield had made himself ac- 
quainted with the details of the administration of the Survey. The 
Secretary added that he hoped a new Director would be appointed 
by the 1st of April. 
The Secretary, in answer to a question as to the purposes of the pro- 
posed South American expedition, stated that they were: 
A general survey of the dominant geological, biological, and an- 
thropological phenomena; 
A study of material by specialists and the preparation of reports 
thereon; and 
The publication and distribution of reports embodying the re- 
sults of these investigations. 
