118 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1917. 



from membership in tlieir honorable bodj-. My reason for so doing is the fact 

 that the infirmities of age have made it of late very difficult, if not impossible, 

 for me to render the services which are justly expected from everyone honored 

 by such membership. 



May I ask you also, in so doing, to accept for yourself and to tender to the 

 board, with assurances of my sincere respect, my most hearty thanks for their 

 unvarying kindness and courtesy in all the relations between us. 

 I remain, dear and honored sir, most respectfully yours, 



Andrew D. White. 



Senator Lodge offered the following resolutions, which were 

 unanimously adopted : 



Whereas the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution having learned 



that Dr. Andrew. Dickson White has tendered his resignation as a Regent: 



Therefore be it 



Resolved, That the boai'd records its deep regret at the severance of official 

 relations with their distinguished colleague, and their appreciation of his 

 \alued services to the Institution extending over a period of nearly 29 years. 



Resolved, That the Regents desire to convey to Doctor Wliite an expression 

 of their sincere hope that the future may bring to him the full measure of 

 happiness that comes from a long life devoted to his country and to the welfare 

 of mankind. 



RESOLUTION RELATIVE TO INCOME AND EXPENDITURE, 



In the absence of Judge Gray, chairman of the executive committee. 

 Doctor Bell offered the following resolution, wdiich was adopted : 



Resolved, That the income of the Institution for the fiscal year ending .Tune 

 30, 1918, be appropriated for the service of the Institution, to be expended by 

 the Secretary with the advice of the Executive Committee, with full discretion 

 on the part of the Secretary as to items. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 



The Secretary submitted the annual report of the executive com- 

 mittee, showing the financial condition of the Institution for the 

 fiscal year ending June 30, 1916, stating that it had been supplied to 

 the Eegents in printed form. On motion, the report was adopted. 



ANNUAL REPORT OF THE PERMANENT COMMITTEE. 



The permanent committee submitted the following statement: 

 HodgMns fund.— No further allotments from this fund have been 

 made on account of the Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory. 



An allotment of $5,000 per annum for three years has been made 

 to Dr. Charles G. Abbot, director of the Astrophysical Observatory 

 of the Smithsonian Institution, for the maintenance of an astrophysi- 

 cal station in the Argentine Republic for the purpose of determining 

 the transmission of the sun's rays through the atmosphere. The 

 details of this proposed work have been given by the Secretary in 

 his annual report. 



