Febeuaey 25, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



255 



man with status independent of politics. 

 In the mode of procedure adopted by the 

 Commission in attempting to influence leg- 

 islation it was thought to exceed its con- 

 stitutional powers, and the criticisms which 

 ensued were among the influences which 

 determined the societies to a reconsidera- 

 tion of the general subject of their federa- 

 tion. Much attention has been given to the 

 matter during the past winter, with the 

 result that a ' Washington Academy of 

 Sciences ' has been determined on, which 

 shall be the federal head of the existing 

 scientific societies. It is to have no con- 

 trol over the ' afi&liated societies,' which 

 retain their autonomy, but its members are 

 to be chosen exclusively from the member- 

 ship of the societies, its vice-presidents are 

 to be nominated by the societies, and it is 

 to have charge of all matters affecting the 

 general and collective interest of their 

 membership. Great pains has been taken 

 in the selection of its nucleus, so that it 

 shall be a thoroughly representative body 

 from the start. The Joint Commission, 

 itself a body of 96 persons, has by ballot 

 chosen from the full membership of the 

 societies 75 men, the criterion of selection 

 being ' original research or scientific attain- 

 ment,' and the nucleus of 75 is to organize 

 the Academy and enlarge its membership. 

 The policy of the new Academy and the 

 choice of functions to which special promi- 

 nence shall be given are yet to be deter- 

 mined ; but its progress will be watched 

 with interest and expectation, especially by 

 those who appreciate the importance of the 

 problem to be solved by the national or- 

 ganizations. 



THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION* 



FINANCES. 



The unexpended balance at the beginning 

 of the fiscal year July 1, 1896, as stated in 

 my last annual report, was $57,065.78. In- 

 terest on the permanent fund in the Treas- 

 ury and elsewhere, amounting to $56,400, 

 was received during the year, which, to- 

 gether with a sum of $6,128.71 received 

 from the sale of the publications and from 

 miscellaneous sources, made the total re- 

 ceipts $62,528.71. 



The disbursements for the year amounted 

 to $58,061.99, the details of which are given 

 in the report of the executive committee. 

 The balance remaining to the credit of the 

 Secretary on June 30, 1897, for the expenses 

 of the Institution, was $61,532.50, which 

 includes the sum of $10,000 referred to in 

 previous reports, being $5,000 received from 

 the estate of Dr. J. H. Kidder, and a like 

 sum from Dr. Alexander Graham Bell, the 

 latter a gift made personally to the Secre- 

 tary to promote certain physical researches. 

 This latter sum was, with the donor's con- 

 sent, deposited by the Secretary to the credit 

 of the current funds of the Institution. 



This balance also includes the interest 

 accumulated on the Hodgkins donation, 

 which is held against certain contingent ob- 

 ligations, besides relatively considerable 

 sums held to meet obligations which may 

 be expected to mature as the result of vari- 

 ous scientific investigations or publications 

 in progress. 



The permanent funds of the Institution 

 are as follows: 



Bequest of Smithson, 1846 §515,169.00 



Residuary legacy of Smithson, 1867 26,210.63 



Deposits from savings of income, 1867 108,620.37 



Bequest of Jas. Hamilton, 1875..$1,000.00 

 Accumulated interest on Hamil- 

 ton fund, 1895 1,000.00 



2,000.00 



*Abstract from the report of S. P. Langley, Secre- 

 tary of the Smithsonian Institution, for the year end- 

 ing June 30, 1897. 



