XVI PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



A discussion here arose, participated in by the Chancellor, Senators^ 

 Piatt and Quay, Mr. Hitt, and Mr. Henderson. In answer to ques- 

 tions, the Secretary explained the apparent anomaly of asking nionc}^ to 

 purchase collections at a time when the Museum had not space to pro- 

 vide for those it possessed, and he asked the Senatorial Regents to 

 consider the desirability of interesting the Senate Appropriations Com 

 mittee in some matters which the House committee had not apparently 

 adequately considered. He named $25,000 as the lowest sum which it 

 was desirable to have in addition to the $165,000 on the appropriation 

 for preservation of collections. 



The Secretary spoke of the attitude of Congress with regard to sal- 

 aries in the Institution, and Mr. Hitt explained that the attitude of the 

 Appropriations Committee with regard to all requests for salaries was 

 due to the fact that experience had shown in the immensi> majority of 

 cases that these requests had a personal motive. He thought it was 

 to be regretted that those of the Institution were not discriminated 

 from such a class, as they seemed to .deserve. 



Remarks to the same effect were made by other Regents, and the 

 result of the discussion seemed to be a general expression of feeling 

 among the Regents that the appointments b}'^ the Institution had been 

 so markedly free from political or personal influence, that it was nnich 

 to be desired that Congress should appreciate the fact and recognize it 

 in reposing a larger confidence in the management of the Institution 

 where the salaries were in (question. 



EXI'LOKATIONS OF XEW TEHKITORY. 



The Secretary' proceeded: 



Ever since tliere seemed tu be a jxjsHibility of aetjniring new territory as a result 

 of the late Spanish-American war, I have had in mind the advisa])ilityand i)r(ji)riety 

 of the sending out by the Institution of scdentiflc parties under its various l)ureaus 

 to conduct inquiries as to the natural history, geology, ethnology, archaeology, and 

 scientific activities of these countries. I understand that the political results of the 

 war are not so thoroughly determined as to make this an opportune time to take 

 the question up, but I hope that by next year Congress will be prepared to consider 

 the matter and to listen to definite proposals concerning it. 



COOPERATION OF NAVY AND ARMY IN COLLECTING ANIMALS FOR THE ZOOLOCilCAL PARK. 



The law establishing the Zoological Park states: "That the heads of the Executive 

 Departments of the Government are hereby authorized and directed to cause to be 

 rendered the necessary and practicable aid to the said Regents in the acquisition of 

 collections in the Zoological Park." 



I have this year addressed letters to the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the 

 Navy, asking if it would meet their approval if letters were addressed to officers of 

 the Army and Navy asking them to cooperate in this work. I have received li?,- 

 response to this a cordial reply from the Secretary of the Navy assenting to thiB ' 

 propositJoja, 



