PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XIII 



On motion the resolution was adopted. 



Senator Henderson, chairman of the Permanent Committee, then 

 reported upon the condition of the Hodgkins and Avery estates, stat- 

 ing- that there remained in the hands of the executor of Mr. Hodj^kins's 

 will the sum of nearly $9,000, which would have l>een paid over some 

 time before to the Institution but for the fact that notice had been 

 served on the executor to retain money sufficient to meet possible 

 litigation. 



Senator Henderson also referred to the conditional liecjuest of Wal- 

 lace C. Andrews, who died in April, 18l>9, and who, after disposing of 

 half a million dollars of his large property, gave the residue of his 

 estate to trustees for the purpose of establishing an institution for the 

 free education of girls, stating at the close of his will that in case his 

 intention with respect to the institution for girls "'shall, because of 

 illegalit}^ become impossible of realization, I then devise and bequeath 

 the sum intended for it to the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, 

 D. C, to be devoted for the purpose for which it was established.'" 



The terms of this will had been studied, with a view of ascertain- 

 ing whether the gift was valid under the laws of New York, with special 

 reference to perpetuit.y. As yet no defect had ))een discovered. The 

 will had been drawn with great care, evidently by some one thoroughly 

 cognizant with the law. 



If Mr. Andrews's estate were a little more than $500,000, the sur- 

 plus would not suffice to carry out the plan of the institution for girls. 

 In that event, this surplus would come to the Smithsonian Institution. 

 As yet, the permanent committee had not been informed how largo the 

 estate was. 



KIDDER BEQUEST. 



The Secretary stated that he would like to bring before the attention 

 of the Board, briefly, the matter of the Kidder Bequest of |5,000. 

 This bequest had already been placed on the same footing by the 

 Board with a similar sum given as a donation by Dr. Alexander Gra- 

 ham Bell, both being put at the disposal of the Secretary. Dr. 

 Bell was here and able to explain the meaning of his gift, but Dr. 

 Kidder was so no longer, and the Secretarf felt a scruple a])out using 

 this money for scientific researches in which he might be the principal 

 agent without being sure that the Regents understood exactly the 

 conditions in question. 



In order that there should be a thorough understanding al)out the 

 matter, he would ask Dr. Bell to make a statement of the facts. 



Dr. Bell said that previous to the appointment of Mr. Langley as 

 Secretary, Professor Baird had been afraid that the Secretary of 

 the Smithsonian might Ijecome a purel}" administrative officer, with- 

 out time or means for scientific investigation, and Secretary Langley 



