PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OB^ REGENTS. XVII 



The Seorctarv gave an account of the experiments in arTodirmiics 

 which are ))eing- conducted for the Board of Ordnance and Fortifica- 

 tion, War Department. 



Some general remarks were made by the Regents, among others b}^ 

 Mr. Bell, who said that he had been a witness of these experiments, 

 which the Secretary had raised to a scientific plane. He was gratified 

 by the action of the War Department, and hy the prospect of the 

 useful application of the principles established. 



The Chancellor remarked that the Board was now f ulh' informed as 

 to what the Secretary wished, and he presumed their assent would ])e 

 understood to be given without the need of a formal resolution. 



HODGKINS MEDAL. 



The Secretarv continued: 



While it does not seeiri advisable that the Hodgkins fund should be chiefly 

 employed in giving medals, it was unquestionably the wish of its founder that it 

 should be thus used to some extent, at least in the early years of its administration, 

 and I have, after consulting scientific counsel, concluded to, with the sanction of the 

 Regents, bestow the gold medal of the Institution on Prof. James Dewar, of the 

 Royal Institution, for his researches on the solidification of atmospheric air, and 

 useful discoveries in that connection. 



The Secretarj' added his regret that this gold medal, which was 

 l)eing struck at the Paris mint, had not arrived In time to be shown to 

 the Regents. He exhibited some other gold medals, one of them by 

 the same medalist, and answered the questions of the Regents about 

 them. 



LAW PROTECTING ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES. 



The Secretary stated that as time was pressing, he would not read at 

 length the form of proposed laws for protecting archaeological sites 

 and for preventing the forger}^ of anticpiities, ])ut that since the reso- 

 lution he had to present in no wa^- connnitted the Regents to any- 

 thing further than an expression of opinion that some such legislation 

 was desirable, he would simply submit the resolution, as follows, 

 which, on motion, was adopted: 



Resolved, That the Board approves in jirinciple the passage of laws protecting 

 archpeological sites and making the uttering of forged objects a misdemeanor, and 

 that the Regents in Congress be rec]uested to endeavor to secure the passage of 

 suitable laws covering these matters. 



CIVIL SERVICE. 



The Secretary went on to say — 



At their last meeting the Board of Regents resolved: 



That the Secretary be instructed to request of the President such a modification of 

 the civil service regulations relating to apiiointments as will permit an exemption of 

 such scientific positions under the Smithsonian Institution as the Secretary may 

 deem best for the interests (if the Institution. 

 SM 9'J 11 



