98 PBOCEEDINGS OF EEGEKTS. 



position for it. On motion, the recommendation was adopted, and 

 the chancellor appointed as the committee Senator Lodge, Senator 

 Bacon, and Secretary Walcott. 



B STREET MARKET PLACE. 



The secretary said: "The board adopted a resolution in relation to 

 the objectionable features incident to the use of B street north of 

 the National Museum as a market place. The wishes of the board 

 to have this condition remedied were conveyed to the Board of 

 Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and I have to report that 

 they have acted favorably, and that tlie sidewalk immediately north 

 of the new building is nov/ free from hucksters, who have been moved 

 over to the nc^rth side of B street in front of the vacant lot known 

 as "Haymarket Square." 



DARWIN CELEBRATION. 



The secretary said: ''By resolution of the board I attended the 

 ceremonies in commemoration of the centenary of Charles Darwin's 

 birth, which were held at the University of Cambridge from June 22 

 to 24, when I presented the Institution's greetings in a formal address. 

 I was honored by having conferred upon me the title of doctor of 

 science." 



CHANGE OF DATE FOR ANNUAL MEETING. 



The secretary brought up the matter of a suitable date for the 

 annual meeting, stating that difficulty was experienced in selecting 

 a day of the week that would be most convenient for all the members 

 of the board. 



After discussion Senator Cullom offered the following resolution, 

 which was adopted: 



Resolved, That hereafter the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution shall 

 hold their annual meeting on the second Thursday in December and a supplementary 

 meeting on the second Thursday in February. 



THE secretary's STATEMENT. 



Progress on the nevj luildingfor the National Museum.. — The failure 

 on the part of several contractors to properly fulfill their agreements 

 has not only greatly delayed the completion of the building, but has 

 so increased the cost of construction that it has been necessary to 

 proceed with extreme caution in the effort to keep within the limits 

 of the appropriation. 



The entire exterior of the building has been finished, except the 

 lajnng of the main approaches, for whicJi, however, the granite has 

 been cut and delivered. Of the interior practically all the halls and 



