4 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



ate, in place of the Vice-President, deceased; Senator S. M. Cullom; 

 Senator O. H. Piatt; Senator William Lindsa}' ; Representative R, R, 

 Hitt; Representative Robert Adams, jr.; Representative Hugh A. 

 Dinsmore; Dr. James B. Angell; Dr. Andrew D. White; the Hon. 

 J. B. Henderson; the Hon. W. L. Wilson; Dr. A. Graham Bell; the 

 Hon. Richard Olney. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



The conduct of the business of the Institution, the management of 

 the bureaus under its charge, the relations with Congress, with the 

 Executive Departments of the Government, with colleges, universities, 

 societies, and libraries, with foreign establishments, governmental and 

 scientilic, and with the thousands of persons who address the Institu- 

 tion seeking aid, counsel and information necessitates details of admin- 

 istrative labors far in excess of what was contemplated in the early 

 days of the Establishment. To these the greater part of the Secre- 

 tarj^'s time must be given, leaving but a minor portion for engaging 

 in and directing scientific work. 



As far as is consistent with an orderly scheme of government, the 

 management of the various interests are left to the officers in direct 

 charge of the several branches of the work. The Secretaiy feels that 

 he is fortunate in having such efficient and hearty support as he receives 

 from these gentlemen, yet all questions of policj^ and almost number- 

 less matters of detail arising from Government practice or the regu- 

 lations of the Regents require his immediate attention and must be 

 passed upon by him or by the Assistant Secretary, who should have 

 more than the merely clerical aid he has at present. 



At the annual meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, held on January 26, 1898, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted : 



'"''Resolved., That the Secretar}^ be instructed to request of the Presi- 

 dent such a modification of the civil-service regulations relating to 

 appointments as will permit an exemption of such scientific positions 

 under the Smithsonian Institution as the Secretary may deem best for 

 the interests of the Institution." 



In accordance with this instruction the Secretary formall}^ laid the 

 matter Ijefore the President in a communication which, since it has 

 already been the subject of discussion in the public press, may not im 

 properly be here given. It is as follows: 



December 5, 1898. 

 The President: 



At the annual meeting of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 

 Institution, held on January 26, 1898, the following resolution was 

 unanimously adopted: 



'"''Resolved^ That the Secretary be instructed to request of the Presi- 

 dent such a modification of the civil service regulations relating to 



