‘SEPTEMBER 8, 1899. ] 
group G into itself the given commutators 
generate the smallest selfconjugate sub- 
group of G, which has the property that all 
the operators of the corresponding quotient 
group are commutative to the fixed opera- 
tor. (3) If one of the elements of a com- 
mutator be multiplied on the left by each 
of the operators of a group it will be ob- 
served that the commutator remains un- 
changed when the multiplier is commuta- 
tive to the other element, and that it is 
changed for every other multiplier. Hence 
this commutator has as many different 
values as the fixed element has conjugates 
when it is transformed by all the operators 
of the given group. 
S. Kimura, of Japan, furnished a paper 
on ‘Linear Vector Functions.’ 
One of the most interesting papers upon 
the program of Section A was ‘ The De- 
termination of the Nature of Electricity 
and Magnetism,’ by Professor R. A. Fes- 
senden, of Western University, Allegheny, 
Pa. It was read before a joint session of 
Sections A and B, and will be reviewed in 
connection with the papers of Section B. 
The fact that the American Mathematical 
Society was to hold a separate meeting at 
Columbus on Friday and Saturday of the 
Association week, and that the Conference 
of Astronomers and Astrophysicists is to be 
held at the Yerkes Observatory early in 
September, a date just late enough to make 
it inconvenient for persons who attended 
the Columbus meeting, both tended to re- 
duce the length of program and the num- 
number in attendance at Section A. It is 
to be hoped that the organizations in ques- 
tion may in the future see fit to cooperate 
with Section A. It seems obvious that 
many benefits must accrue to each of the 
three organizations from such cooperation, 
for they have many common members and 
common interests. 
Joun F. Hayrorp, 
Secretary of Section A. 
SCIENCE 
299 
390 
ELEVENTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AS- 
SOCIATION OF ECONOMIC ENTOMOL- 
OGISTS, COLUMBUS, OHIO, AU- 
GUST 18 AND 19, 1899. 
Tue Association met in room 4, Biological 
Hall, Ohio State University, at 10 a. m., 
August18. Fourteen members and a num- 
ber of distinguished visitors were present, 
the average attendance at the four sessions 
being about twenty. The address of the 
retiring President, Mr. C. L. Marlatt, Wash- 
ington, D. C., on ‘ The Laissez-faire Philos- 
ophy applied to the Insect Problem’ was 
treated with an originality as courageous 
as refreshing. The author depicted the 
harmonious action of nature and called at- 
tention to her abundant powers of recupera- 
tion and self protection. The fundamental 
principles underlying the excessive multi- 
plication and injury characterizing new or 
introduced species were explained,and an at- 
tempt was made to show the futility of efforts 
to prevent the introduction or secure the 
extermination of foreign insects once estab- 
lished in this country. These introduc- 
tions of new forms are world movements 
not to be thwarted by man. The exploit- 
ing of short-lived or easily controllable ills 
was condemned and the unfair restrictions 
placed upon commerce by such efforts were 
pointed out. From the author’s stand- 
point the only legitimate field for efforts in 
applied entomology is that of the local con- 
trol of injurious species, and here the ento- 
mologist finds ample opportunity for the 
exercise of his powersin behalf of mankind. 
A general discussion of the address followed 
and while some of the members present 
were unable to, accept entirely the conclu- 
sions of the author, all agreed that the ad- 
dress constituted a very important and 
valuable contribution to the philosophical 
literature of applied entomology. 
Active members were elected as follows : 
C. S. Banks, Albany, N. Y.; Arthur Gib- 
son, Ottawa, Canada; H. P. Gould, Col- 
