1915] 



ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION BANQUET 9 



Cunningham, Secretary and Treasurer, and appointing Pro- 

 fessor William Trelease Director. 



Immediately thereafter, by-laws were adopted and com- 

 mittees appointed so that the estate could be efficiently 

 managed. There were four committees — the Garden Com- 

 mittee, the Auditing Committee, the Lands Committee, and the 

 Ways and Means Committee — the President of the Board 

 being ex-officio member of all committees. All actions of the 

 committees require the approval of the Board before becom- 

 ing operative. 



There have been three Presidents, three Vice-Presidents, 

 one Secretary and Treasurer, and two Directors of the Garden 

 since the organization of the Board. Of the original trustees 

 named in the will but one survives, Mr. William H. H. Pettus, 

 whose feeble health prevents his being with us this evening. 

 There are but two salaried officers connected with the estate, 

 the Secretary and Treasurer, and the Director, the trustees 

 serving without compensation. 



And I wish here to correct an impression prevailing among 

 many that this estate is exempt from taxation. That is 

 erroneous. With the exception of the Garden grounds proper, 

 the estate pays taxes the same as any citizen, and I may add 

 that this item consumes about one-fourth of the gross income, 

 the remainder being used for the maintenance of the Garden 

 and other objects of the trust. 



Mr. Shaw was a man of independent thought and action, 

 and while devising his estate to trustees, he at the same time 

 appointed the public administrator of the City of St. Louis 

 the executor of his will. 



Among provisions of the will was an annual appropriation 

 for a flower sermon to be preached at such church and by such 

 minister as the Bishop of the Diocese may select; an annual 

 banquet for florists and gardeners in and about St. Louis, at 

 which the Director of the Garden was to preside ; a banquet 

 for the trustees and the guests they may invite — literary and 

 scientific men and friends and patrons of the natural sciences. 



Another provision of the will was that his residence at 

 Seventh and Locust Streets was to be taken down and rebuilt 



