PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XVII 



"The coininittee further earnestly request you and the Regents of the Smithsonian 

 to intimate to us if the Institution would accede to what is the first prefereiace of all 

 the educators who have been consulted — the establishment of an administrative 

 office in the hands of the Regents and Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. If 

 the Regents will consider the proposition, the committee would like to have the 

 Regents exercise full power as to the entire plans for the organization of said admin- 

 istrative office. In case of favorable consideration, the committee would be glad to 

 know what steps the committee snould take further. It is desired to introduce a 

 bill before the close of the present session of Congress for the authority and petty 

 funds needed in the organization of the work. The committee would be glad to 

 answer any inquiries that you or the Regents would like to make. It is believed 

 that the scope of the work is set forth in the report. 



' ' The committee regret to trouble you among the multifarious affairs ever waiting 

 ujion you, but they feel confident that you and the Regents have an interest in the 

 matter so important for education and the diffusion of knowledge as that proposed 

 by the representative and National Association for whom the committee speak. 



"Would it be too much to ask if, in your first acknowledgment of the receipt of 

 the document submitted, you will let me know when the Regents are likely to con- 

 sider the subject? The committee heartily hope for a favorable consideration and 

 are sensible of the grace begged of yourself and the Regents." 



This letter of Mr. MacLean, with the accompanying papers, was, at its last January 

 meeting, laid before the Board of Regents by Secretary Langley; whereujion the 

 papers were referred by the Board to a conunittee of five of its members under direc- 

 tion of the following resolution: 



"Resolved, That the communication from the committee representing the agricul- 

 tural colleges of the United States be referred to a committee of Regents to be 

 appointed by the Chancellor, to consider the same and all kindred questions, and to 

 make a report thereon at the next meeting of the Board." 



The Chancellor appointed the Executive tbmmittee consisting of J. B. Henderson, 

 William L. Wilson, and Alexander Graham Bell, and also J. B. Angell and R. R. 

 Hitt. T>^e Secretary, at his own request, was not made a member of the committee. 



And now your committee comes and takes pleasure in reporting such facis as it has 

 Vjeen able to gather for the information of the Board of Regents. 



In the judgment of this committee, it was deemed necessary at the threshold of 

 the investigations to ascertain with a greater degree of certainty the details of such 

 plan as might be suggested and formulated 1)}' the associated colleges for the accom- 

 plishment of their wishes. For that purpose, therefore, a joint meeting of this com- 

 mittee with that of the colleges was recently held, in which the subject was discussed 

 with commendable frankness and freedom. A record of the action of this joint 

 meeting was preserved, and its official proceedings will probably best convey to your 

 minds the extent and bearing of the questions involved in the proposition of the 

 associated colleges. These proceedings are as follows: 



A joint iueeting of the Committees on Graduate Study of the Regents of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution and of the American Association of Agricultural Colleges and 

 Experiment Stations was held December 27, 1899, in Washington, D. C, at the 

 residence of Mr. J. B. Henderson, at his invitation. There were present of the 

 Regents, Messrs. J. B. Henderson, A. Graham Bell, and R. R. Hitt; of the Associa- 

 tion, M. H. Buckham, president of the University of Vermont; H. H. Goodell, 

 president of the Massachusetts Agricultural College; Alexis Cope, secretary of Ohio 

 State University; J. H. Washburn, president of the Agricultural and Mechanical 

 College of Rhode Island; and A. C. True, Director of the Office of Experiment 

 Stations. The meeting was called to order at 7.45 p. m. by Mr. Henderson, who 

 suggested that a joint session be organized. On motion, Mr. Henderson was chosen 



8M 1900 II 



