PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. XVIT 



RESOLUTION KELATIVE TO INCOME AND EXPENDITURE. 



Senator Henderson, as chairman of the executive committee, intro- 

 duced the following customary resolution: 



Resolved, That the income of the Institution for the fiscal year ending June 30, 

 1904, be appropriated for the service of the Institution, to be expended by the Sec- 

 retary with the advice of the executive committee, with full discretion on the part 

 of the Secretary as to items. 



On motion the resolution was adopted. 



REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON NEEDS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL 



MUSEUM. 



Senator Piatt, as chairman of the special committee appointed at 

 the last annual meeting, submitted the following report: 



The committee of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, appointed 

 in accordance with a resolution of the Board ' ' to represent to Congress the pressing 

 necessity of additional room for the proper exhibition of specimens belonging to 

 the National Museum," have examined the plans prepared under the direction of the 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution in accordance with the provisions of the 

 sundry civil appropriation act approved June 28, 1902. 



The committee adopted the following motion: 



"That under the limitations of the law the committee hereby report to Congress 

 plan B for a new National ]Museum building as the best obtainable for the amount 

 mentioned; but in the judgment of the committee the larger plan A is believed to 

 be the one which should be adopted, and we, therefore, ask that Congress shall make 

 the appropriation for it instead of for the smaller plan." 



But if an appropriation for the construction of a building upon the larger plan can 

 not be made now, the committee respectfully urge upon Congress an approiiriation 

 of $1,500,000 to construct that portion of the completed plan shown in Plan B. They 

 further represent to Congress the fact that collections of the greatest value are in 

 immediate danger of destruction, and are now actually undergoing degeneration in 

 the present unsuitable, unsafe, temporary quarters, and that the erection of a new 

 building is absolutelv necessary for the preservation of the national collections. 



Respectfully submitted. 



O. H. Platt, 



S. M. CULLOM, 

 F. M. COCKRELL, 

 R. R. II ITT, 



RoBT. Adams,' .JR., 

 Hugh A. Dinsmore, 



Members of the Special Committee of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Inxtitidion. 



After discussion, on motion of Mr. Adams, it was 



Resolved, That the report of the committee be adopted, and that they be instructed 

 to proceed to bring the matter to a conclusion by securing an appropriation. 



The Secretary announced the death on September 23, 1902, of Major 

 John W. Powell,. Director of the Bureau of Ethnolog}-^, and his 

 appointment on October 11, of Mr. William H. Holmes as Chief of 

 the Bureau, and made a statement as to the present status of the 

 Bureau and its future policy. 



