86 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. XIX. No. 472. 



On the Velocity of Light, 



The committee reports progress since the Pitts- 

 burg meeting in the preliminary study of the 

 methods of determining the group velocity and 

 the absolute velocity of light in ponderable media 

 and in space. 



The practicability of the method, involving the 

 use of electric double refraction and electric oscil- 

 lations for producing groups of waves, and the 

 examination of them through a column of water 

 at least 100 feet long and probably twice that 

 distance, has been established. 



An estimate from the corresponding optical 

 conditions in air would make the available dis- 

 tance sevei'al miles. The preliminary study of the 

 method for determining the absolute velocity has 

 not yet been completed, but the apparatus is 

 partly mounted and in place. 



The committee petitions a further grant of 

 seventy-five dollars for the continuance of the 

 preliminary experiments now in progress. 

 Respectfully submitted, 



D. B. Brace, 

 For the Committee. 



On the Teaching of Anthropology in America. 



To the President and Council: Your committee 

 on the teaching of anthropology in America beg 

 to report progress. 



During the year 1902 (for which a brief report 

 was submitted to the council, though apparently 

 lost before reaching the secretary of the council), 

 the committee held one or two conferences, while 

 different members took individual action in ac- 

 cordance with the general policy looking toward 

 the promotion of anthropologic education in sev- 

 eral leading institutions. Dr. MacCurdy, of the 

 committee, continued the collection and publica- 

 tion of statistics as to the teaching of anthro- 

 pology; and Dr. Boas, Dr. Russell and the chair- 

 man of the committee delivered addresses and 

 published papers advocating the extension and 

 betterment of anthropologic teaching in this 

 eoimtry. During the year 1903 the committee 

 have continued work, chiefly as individuals, and 

 different members have been consulted and have 

 expressed opinions as to the value of anthropology 

 as a subject of instruction in educational insti- 

 tutions. Recently the committee has suffered a 

 grievous loss in the death of Dr. Frank Russell, 

 one of the original members of the committee. 



It is reconunended that the committee be con- 

 tinued, and that the vacancy created by the death 

 of Dr. Russell be filled by the appointment of Dr. 

 Roland B. Dixon, of Harvard University. Since 



the work of the committee is performed in occa- 

 sional conferences and by correspondence, entail- 

 ing little expense, no grant is asked for its main- 

 tenance. Respectfully, 



W J McG-EE, Chairman. 

 George Grant MacCurdy. 

 On Grants. 



The committee on grants recommends that ap- 

 propriations for the ensuing year be made as 

 follows, namely: 



To the Concilium Bibliographicum of Zurich, 

 $100. 



To the Committee on the Atomic Weight of 

 Thorium, $100. 



To the Committee on the Study of the Relations 

 of Plants to Climate, $75. 



To the Committee on Determination of the 

 Velocity of Light, $75. 



To a committee of Section C, to be appointed, to 

 study certain problems in electrochemistry, $60. 



To give effect to this last recommendation, the 

 following resolution is suggested: 



Resolved, That a committee consisting of Pro- 

 fessors W. D. Bancroft, Edgar F. Smith and L. 

 Kahlenberg be appointed to conduct said investi- 

 gations in electrochemistry and that this committee 

 be designated the Committee on Electrochemistry. 



On Policy of the Association. 

 The Committee on Policy of the Association re- 

 ported the following resolutions, which were 

 adopted. 



1. Concerning the proposition to authorize the 

 appointment of an executive committee of five to 

 consult with the permanent secretary and arrange 

 details of the meetings, that the functions of such 

 proposed executive committee be performed by 

 the Committee on the Policy of the Association. 



2. The Committee on the Policy of the Associa- 

 tion recommend to the council that at the next 

 annual meeting only three general sessions be 

 held, namely, those of Monday, Wednesday and 

 Friday of the week of meeting. 



3. Amend Article 34 by the omission of the 

 words ' on the election of any member as a fellow 

 an additional fee of two dollars shall be paid.' 



4. That the commutation of secretaries of sec- 

 tions be fixed at $30 for each meeting of the asso- 

 ciation, provided that these secretaries lodge dur- 

 ing the whole meeting at the hotel headquarters 

 of the association. 



In 'regard to granting credentials to members 

 of the association who wish to visit foreign asso- 

 ciations, the committee recommended that all such 

 applications be referred to the Committee on 

 Policy, with power. 



