xl INTRODUCTORY PROCEEDINGS. 



that such dues should apply toward the cost of the current volume of Proceedings, but the 

 Committee, as you will see, has adjusted that matter in a way which seems fair. 



Another matter was the election of Members of Council, how the ballot should be pre- 

 pared; another subject was the question of presiding officers at the meetings; another one 

 created an additional class of members under the heading of "Benefactors and Permanent 

 Members." Running through quickly : outside of the merely typographical or unimportant 

 changes, the first main point is the establishment of the grade of "Benefactors and Permanent 

 Members." It was thought that any one who contributed very largely to the Society or who 

 was of special service to it should be placed in some distinctive position, and this grade of 

 membership takes care of that situation. The question of the dues for the year of election is 

 made quite clear. The changed part says: — 



"On notification of his election each member shall pay his entrance fee, but annual dues 

 for the current year shall not be required unless he desires to receive the published Transac- 

 tions of the Society for that year, in which case he shall pay Five dollars ($5.00) in addi- 

 tion to the entrance fee." 



That gives the member a reason for charging anything, if anything is charged. There 

 is practically an entire revision of the scheme of preparing the ballot for the election of Mem- 

 bers of Council and Associate Members of Council who are to be elected annually. 



To briefly describe the method now proposed, it is that in the beginning each member of 

 the Society is invited by the Secretary to make his suggestions as to candidates for Mem- 

 bers of Council and Associate Members of Council. Then a nominating committee is 

 formed, as it was formed before, by the Council, and that committee considers such sug- 

 gestions of the individual members as may be made. Then a ticket is printed, taking ac- 

 count of these suggestions and the Committee's authority, and this ticket is sent out to all 

 the membership. In addition to that, even after this ticket has been prepared after consulta- 

 tion with the Society at large, if there be any objection to the ticket means are provided for 

 making an alternate ticket; in other words, the whole method is very broad and clear. 



With this explanation, the matter is in the hands of the Society, such other changes as 

 have been made being relatively unimportant. 



The Chairman : — According to our present Constitution, with respect to amendments 

 to the Constitution — and this is practically an amendment to the whole Constitution — it 

 is provided, "If a majority of the Council approves the proposed amendment, it shall be 

 presented to the Society at the next ensuing general meeting for discussion." The Council 

 has approved this revision of the Constitution and By-Laws unanimously. The present 

 Constitution further provides : — "If approved by two-thirds of the members present, voting 

 by ballot, if a ballot be demanded, it shall be adopted." Is a ballot demanded? If not, a 

 motion to approve the revised Constitution and By-Laws is in order. 



Mr. H. L. Aldrich : — I move that the revised Constitution and By-Laws be approved. 



The motion was duly seconded, put to vote, and carried. 



