316 COMPLIMENTARY REMARKS TO RETIRING PRESIDENT. 



COMPLIMENTARY REMARKS TO RETIRING PRESIDENT, REAR ADMIRAL 



CAPPS. 



Mr. W. M. McFarland^ Honora>ry Vice-President: — I desire to bring up another mat- 

 ter, and do so now rather than to wait until the close of the proceedings, because some of the 

 members may desire to leave before that time. You will see that we should have as many of 

 the members present as possible when we do w hat I shall submit for your action in a few 

 moments. 



I think it is always a very fitting thing, when a member of an organization has played 

 a very prominent part in its work for many years, and in fact, has been a guiding spirit, 

 and one of the most active and efficient workers that has ever been honored by the highest 

 gift which the Society can make, and has filled out his term as president in an admirable 

 way and to the entire satisfaction of every member of the Society, that the Society should 

 place on record its appreciation of what he has done, and its appreciation of him as a man. 



Our retiring president is a man whom many of us have the great privilege and pleasure 

 of counting as a personal friend. I have known him for a great many years. If I told you 

 just how many, it would tell you something about how old we both are, and I will omit that. 

 He was one of the charter members of the Society, was secretary of the Society for many 

 years, and has been one of the most active and earnest workers towards promoting the effi- 

 ciency of the Society that we have ever had. It has been an honor to the Society to have 

 such a man as president. 



He has filled a great many eminent positions in public life. He has been the Chief 

 Constructor of our Navy. He has been the president of the Emergency Fleet Corporation, 

 and he has filled with great efficiency a most honorable and exceedingly difficult position as 

 chairman of the Compensation Board for the Navy during and since the war, during which 

 time contracts amounting to more than a billion dollars were passed on by him. 



I feel I am only voicing the sentiment of every one of you when I propose a vote of 

 thanks to Admiral Capps for the admirable way in which he has conducted the affairs of the 

 Society during his term as president, and for all the work he has done during the entire life 

 of the Society ; added to which is our wish that he may live for many years to see the Society 

 grow in usefulness, efficiency and reputation in the way his own efforts have been exerted. 

 (Applause.) ' 



Mr. Hugo P. Frear, Member of Council: — It is a great pleasure for me to second the 

 motion of Captain McFarland. 



The Chairman : — By way of putting the motion, I am going to suggest that we give 

 a rousing approval of the motion by applause instead of the usual method. Those in favor 

 of the motion will manifest it in this manner. 



The members joined in great resounding applause of the motion. 



The Chairman : — Admiral Capps, it gives me very great pleasure to convey to you the 

 appreciation and thanks of the Society in terms that you have already heard. 



