XIV JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



tion I do uot recall a single occasion in wliicli the Secretary has not fonnd himself 

 able to act in accordance with the wish of the Assistant Secretary in all appoint- 

 ments and removals. 



Nothing can be more desirable in administration than a condition which can per- 

 mit this freedom without fear of laxity. It was justified in this case, as it is hoped 

 it will always be justified, by the fact that the person in this important position 

 possessed the entire confidence of the Secretary. 



It is more than ev(?r before desirable that the officer in charge of the Museum 

 shall be a man of wide experience in administrative aftairs, as well as a man of 

 scientific position, and that the whole body of scientific men throughout the country 

 shall be eligible, but I have found myself unable as yet, after the most anxious pains, 

 to present any name to the Regents which appears entirely satisfactory. 



After laying before tbe Regents tbe names of different gentlemen i)ro- 

 posecl for the position, with the recommendatory letters, the Secretary 

 said that most of these, with others he had considered among the more 

 prominent ones of the country, were without the civil service and came 

 under the exclusions of its rules. He would add that the names outside 

 the civil service among whom the Institution would naturally seek were 

 those of persons already enjoying positions of high trust, and who, in 

 several of these instances, could only accept the place at a heavy 

 pecuniary sacxifice. 



The Secretary then presented the name of Mr. Charles D. Walcott, 

 honorary curator of the Museum, and now director of the United States 

 Geological Survey, and after explaining the grounds for his confidence 

 in Mr. Walcott and the reasons which made it impracticable for tlie 

 latter to then accept the position, while it was desirable that some 

 immediate, if provisionary, arrangement should be made, asked the 

 consent of the Eegents to the appointment of Mr. Walcott as acting 

 assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with the under- 

 standing that his duties to the Institution were to be confined exclu- 

 sively to the charge of the Museum. Senator Morrill then introduced 

 the following resolution, which was adopted: 



Besolved, That the appointment by the Secretary of Prof. Charles D. Walcou as 

 acting assistant secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, with duties confined to 

 the charge of the National Museum, be approved. 



The Secretary then said : 



I have received the following letter from the President of the United States: 



"Executive Mansion, 



" Washington, June 18, 1896. 

 ''Dear Sir: I inclose you a classification of the employees of the 

 Smithsonian Institution, which is a copy of those signed by the other 

 Executive Departments and bureaus. 



''I wish you would insert the date and sign it and notify the Civil 

 Service Commission that you have done so. I think it should be filed 

 in your office. 



"Yours, truly, 



"Geoveb Cleveland. 

 " S. P. Langley, Secretary, etcP 



