9 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, LOIN: 
On July 4, 1910, Chief Justice Fuller died and was succeeded on 
December 19 by Chief Justice Edward Douglass White as ex officio 
member of the board. ; 
At a meeting of the Board of Regents on December 8, 1910, the 
Hon. James S. Sherman, Vice President of the United States, was 
elected Chancellor. 
The personnel of the board has been further changed by the resig- 
nation of Hon. John B. Henderson and the appointment of John B. 
Henderson, jr., as a Regent. 
GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS. 
The Smithsonian Institution has had a powerful influence for more 
than 60 years in the development of science in the United States. 
Its achievements in many lines of research and exploration have been 
of great good in the promotion of the welfare of the human race. 
The Institution and its branches continue to be engaged in a wide 
range of activities, covering practically the entire field of natural 
and physical science, as well as anthropological and archeological 
researches. 
In my last report I referred to the establishment of a trust fund, 
through the generosity of Mrs. E. H. Harriman, which yields an 
annual income of $12,000, to be devoted to the definite purpose of car- 
rying on scientific studies, particularly of American mammals and 
other animals, the donor specifying Dr. C. Hart Merriam as the in- 
vestigator to carry on the work during his lifetime. I believe it desir- 
able to establish a number of such research associateships, whereby 
especially capable men in other branches of science may be afforded 
opportunities for research work without the care and burden of 
administrative duties, and with full assurance that as long as their 
work is properly conducted it will be continued and that provision 
will be made for them when incapacitated for active service. The 
field for scientific investigation is extensive, and there are numbers 
of worthy projects that can not now be undertaken because of lack 
of means—projects that could not properly be carried on through 
Government appropriation, but which the Smithsonian Institution 
could readily undertake were the means available. 
Friends of the Institution have from time to time generously pro- 
vided funds for carrying on important explorations and researches, 
as in the case of the Smithsonian African expedition, and more 
recently by largely supporting the Smithsonian biological survey of 
the Panama Canal Zone. : 
Tt seems proper that I should here call special attention to the 
motive which led the late George W. Poore, of Lowell, Massachu- 
setts, who died December 17, 1910, to make the Smithsonian Insti- 
tution his residual legatee. By the terms of the will the estate, esti- 
