45 



work, especially in Indiana; to assist by investigation and discnssion in 

 developing and making known the material, educational and other resources 

 and riches of the State: to arrange and prepare for publicailon such reports 

 of investigations and discussions as may further the aims and objects of 

 the Academy as set forth in these articles." 



TJie first provision fin- the encouragement of research and the diffusion 

 of knowledge concerning the various departments of science is an impor- 

 tant one. Examination of tlie in-inted volumes of the Proceedings will dis- 

 close a long list of original contributions and reports of investigations ot 

 the natural resources of our state and of the development of various 

 phases of scientific progress. The record is one of which we may well be 

 proud. Many of the papers have been an inspiration to those who heard 

 their presentation, and they remain an in^■aluable. permanent record ol 

 current i>roblems or of conditions long since passed away. Still it is 

 worth while to raise the question whether it may not be possiI)le to increase 

 the value and interest of the papers presented at our regular meetings by 

 making them i)art of well considered and carefully prepared programs. 



In connection with this problem there appears a serious defect in the 

 practice which obtains in the organization of the committees upon which 

 the Academy must depend for the direction of its work. The constitution 

 provides that "The President shall at each annual meeting appoint two 

 members to be a committee which shall prepare the in-ograms and have 

 charge of the arrangements for the meetings for one year."' Current prac- 

 tice so interprets this provision that the retiring president chooses this and 

 other committees which must work with the newly electe<l officers. This 

 I consider a seriously unfortunate usage. Under such conditions there is 

 no reason to anticipate the same sense of common interest and responsi- 

 bility for the work of officers and committees as would obtain if the act- 

 ing president had the appointment of his own committees. As an illus- 

 tration I may cite the fact that one year within the writer's knowledge 

 the chairman of the program committee, w'hich so far as the immediate 

 interests of the Academy are concerned is the most important committee, 

 was not even informed of his appoiutiTient till so late as to make arrange- 

 ments for the spring meeting altogether impracticable. Had the acting 

 president selected his own committees there certainly would have been 

 a closer cooperation and a fuller sense of responsibility and therefore more 

 efficient service. Tliis statement is made not in adverse criticism of either 

 officers or committees, but of the unwise practice of the Academy. Com- 



