40 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 106. 



way of the full development of the plan of 

 the Institution, and naming as the most 

 objectionable result the necessity for con- 

 stant appeals to Congress for appropria- 

 tions, which would be quite unnecessary if 

 its energies were confined to their legitimate 

 channels. 



In his Eeport for 1887 Prof. Henry said : 

 " In the preceding reports I have called 

 the attention of the Board of Regents to the 

 propriety of a final separation of the Insti- 

 tution from the Ifational Museum, and 

 nothing has occurred during the past year 

 to change my opinion on this point. * * * 

 The functions of the Institution and the 

 Museum are entirely different." 



In a report of a special committee sub- 

 mitted in 1887 by Prof. Asa Gray, then a 

 Regent of the Institution, the question is 

 seriously considered and the dangers by 

 which the Smithsonian Institution is men- 

 aced through its relations to the National 

 Museum are set forth, in part, as follows : 



"We are therefore bound to conclude that the 

 Board of Regents, as respects these National collec- 

 tions, acts as the trustee of Congress. Under this 

 state of things, and in view of the ever-increasing 

 magnitude and interest of these collections, the rela- 

 tion of this Institution to the National Museum he- 

 comes a matter for grave consideration. * * * 



" Our Secretary, in his annual report submitted on 

 the 26th of January, 1876, has now raised the grave 

 question whether the well-being of the Institution 

 would not favor or even require the adoption of a 

 similar policy as regards the National Museum. He 

 declares that it is most ' desirable that a more definite 

 distinction between the two establishments, if not an 

 entire separation, should be made, ' and he urges the 

 subject upon our attention by considerations which 

 cannot be disregarded. Your committee was ap- 

 pointed to take thought upon this subject. The vast 

 increase of museum objects in natural history, eth- 

 nology, and materials of industrial art, consequent 



upon the Centennial Exposition, an increase far be- 

 yond the largest anticipations, gives new importance 

 and urgency to this question. * * * Now the propor- 

 tion which the Museum bears to the Institution proper 

 is already large, and it threatens to be predominant. 

 We have no desire to check its immense development, 

 and we contemplate with satisfaction its sure popu- 

 larity ; but as respects the burden which the Museum 

 throws upon our Secretary, we may say that it is al- 

 ready heavy, and that it threatens to be injuriously 

 large. If not provided against, the time seems sure 

 to come when the Museum will mainly absorb the 

 working energies of the Institution. * * * 



" No present action is proposed by this committee 

 beyond the recommendation that the distinction be- 

 tween the Institution itself and the Museum under its 

 charge should be made as prominent as possible. The 

 very great development which the Museum is now 

 undergoing may soon bring the whole subject before 

 the board in a practical form * * * if the Museum is 

 to develop to its full size and importance upon the 

 present site, according to the plans laid before the 

 board, and by it recommended to Congress this will, 

 as it seems to us, almost necessarily involve the acqui- 

 sition by the government of our present edifice, and 

 that will pave the way for an entire separation of ad- 

 ministration, or to such other adjustment as the Board 

 of Eegents may then think best, or be able to accom- 

 plish." [Signed] 



Asa Geay, 



A. A. Sargent, 



HiBSTER CLYMER, 



CommiHee. 



Although Prof. Baird was naturally more 

 interested than his predecessor in the de- 

 velopment of the Museum, of which he was, 

 indeed, for many years Curator, his recog- 

 nition of its independence of any real rela- 

 tion to the Institution was shown in his- 

 first report to the Regents, being that for 

 the year 1878. He says: " The relations 

 existing between the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion and the National Museum have been 

 so frequently referred to by my predecessor 

 that it is only necessary to mention briefly 



