178 AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. 
THE PRESIDENT :—There is an important matter we want to take up, consider and dis- 
cuss, if necessary, and reach a conclusion. I have been asked to make a brief statement 
about it, because, unfortunately, Mr. Stevenson Taylor, who is chairman of the committee 
which had it in charge, is not here for the moment, and, I believe, is not likely to be present 
at this session. 
Tt has been the custom, heretofore, in selecting members of the Council to have a Nomi- 
nating Committee appointed to prepare the ticket. The committee this year, after carrying 
out its duties, made a report to the Council, in which attention was called to some objections 
to the methods which have been followed for a number of years, in accordance with the Con- 
stitution. Many of us were quite familiar with these objectionable features, particularly 
those who, like myself, had served at times on a Nominating Committee. I will recall to 
you just what they are, so that you will understand the subject thoroughly. 
The outgoing Members and Associate Members of the Council are automatically renom- 
inated, their names going on the ballot without any action. In addition, three members are put 
on the ballot, and one additional associate. This ballot goes out to the membership, and six 
members out of nine are elected as members, and two associates out of three on the list are 
elected as associates. 
There are some objections to that system,as you can readily see. In an organization 
like our own, where there are no cliques and no factions, it seems a pity to put up the 
names of good men, simply to have them knocked down. That came about, however, for 
reasons which it is not necessary to go into at present. The committee called attention to the 
fact that, under this system of renomination, it might happen that there would be cases of 
nominees who had not been zealous in attendance on council meetings, and who had shown 
no particular interest in the Society; nevertheless, their names would go on the ballot just 
the same. Unfortunately, as my experience on the Nominating Committee several times 
has shown, the membership at large is not well enough acquainted with everybody in the 
Society to be able to discriminate, nor would it have any means of knowing who are the mem- 
bers of the Council who attend to their duties and show real interest in the affairs of the So- 
ciety, and who do not. 
The result has been that several amendments were drawn up and submitted to the Coun- 
cil in accordance with the Constitution, having been prepared by ten or more members. These 
amendments came up before the Council meeting yesterday morning, and after being read 
over and discussed, were referred to a special committee for careful consideration and report 
this morning. That report was made, which substantially approves all of the things recom- 
mended—there were slight changes in phraseology, but the amendments were recommended 
by the committee for adoption substantially as proposed. - 
Then each of these items was taken up seriatim, and again read; opportunity was given 
for discussion, and they were finally voted on by the Council. As a result we now have 
ready to present, to the membership of the Society at large, these proposed amendments, 
properly prepared in accordance with the Constitution, having been carefully considered by 
the Council, and coming before the Society with the unanimous recommendation of the Coun- 
cil that they be adopted. 
