COMMITTEES ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT 303 



" It does not appear to your committee that the addition of the word ' scientific ' 

 in the last clause of the law quoted comprehends any objects other than those 

 which may be included under the term ' philosophical ' as hereinbefore defined. 

 We regard the addition of this word as merely intended to render the meaning 

 of Congress more explicit." "' 



COMMITTEE ON THE ASTRONOMICAL DAY, THE SOLAR 

 ECLIPSE OF AUGUST, 1886, AND THE ERECTION OF A NEW 

 NAVAL OBSERVATORY. 1885 



As indicated by the heading, this committee was concerned 

 with three different matters of astronomical importance. It 

 was appointed at the request of the Secretary of the Navy, W. C. 

 Whitney, who, on April 22, 1885, addressed the following letter 

 to the President of the Academy: "^ 



" Navy Department, 



"Washington, D. C, April 22, 1885. 

 " Professor O. C. Marsh, 



" President of the National Academy of Sciences. 

 " Sir : I have the honor to submit enclosed a copy of Senate Executive Docu- 

 ment No. 78, 48th Congress, 2nd Session, containing a letter from the Secretary 

 of the Navy, dated February 17th, 1885, transmitting communications concerning 

 the proposed change in the time for beginning the astronomical day, as recom- 

 mended by the recent Meridian Conference. 



" I would respectfully request that the National Academy of Sciences take into 

 consideration the question of adopting the proposed change in the American 

 Ephemeris and Nautical Almanac, and other astronomical publications, and advise 

 this Department of its views and recommendations on the subject. 



" I have also the honor to submit for your consideration and recommendation 

 the following questions: 



" 1st. As to the advisability of asking Congress to make an appropriation for the 

 observation of the eclipse of the sun in August, 1886, to be expended by the 

 Superintendent of the Naval Observatory under direction of the Navy Depart- 

 ment. 



" 2nd. As to the advisability of proceeding promptly with the erection of a new 

 Naval Observatory upon the site purchased in 1880. 



" Very respectfully, 



" W. C. Whitney, 



" Secretary of the Navy." 



™Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1884, p. 67. 

 ""Rep. Nat. Acad. Sci. for 1885, pp. 35-36. 



