4 EEPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



those of "NAHiistfer and his school, and of American and oriental pot- 

 tery and other objects of art; and of erecting a building to be used 

 solely for the purpose of exhibiting these objects, on condition that 

 the Regents should provide for the maintenance of the building and 

 collections. The Secretary had laid this matter before the executive 

 committee under date of December 16, which adopted the following 

 report : 



" The executive committee, having heard with interest and appre- 

 ciation the statement by Secretary Langley of the proposition and 

 views of Mr. Charles L. Freer, of Detroit, to intrust to the Smith- 

 sonian Institution a collection of works of art, now in his possession, 

 which has already cost $600,000, and to which he proposes to add 

 almost as much more, and to construct for housing it a hall costing 

 $500,000, upon condition that all the expense and responsibilitj^ for 

 its care and maintenance shall be provided, are of opinion that it 

 would be well for the Board of Regents to consider such a proposition 

 in sympathy with the broad and cultivated spirit in which it is made; 

 but as it is presented only as a statement of a conversation with Mr. 

 Freer, it is requested by the committee that Secretary Langley com- 

 municate with Mr. Freer, and suggest to him that he put in more 

 precise form his views and his wishes, so that the action which the 

 committee may recommend to the Board shall be such as will exactly 

 set forth Mr. Freer's purposes and be given the careful consideration 

 appropriate to such an enduring benefaction. 



" It is further requested by the committee that Mr. Freer be com- 

 municated with in such time that his reply may be received and be 

 considered by the committee before the meeting of the Board, which 

 'occurs on January 25, 1905." 



After reading several communications from Mr. Freer on the 

 subject, and the correspondence between him and the Secretary, the 

 following resolution was adopted : 



''''Resolced. That the Chancellor appoint a committee of three 

 Regents, whose duty it shall be to make personal examination of the 

 collection of art objects which Mr. Charles L. Freer has proposed to 

 give or bequeath to the Smithsonian Institution, and make report to 

 the Board of its value and merits; and said committee is further 

 instructed to ascertain from Mr. Freer what alterations, if any, can 

 be made in the conditions of his very generous proposal ; and the Sec- 

 retard' of this Institution is hereby added as an additional member of 

 this committee." 



The following committee was then appointed: Doctor Angell, 

 Senator Henderson, Doctor Bell, and the Secretary. 



REGULAU MEETING OF MARCH 6, 1905. 



The Secretary asked the Board's approval of his appointment of 

 Dr. Cyrus Adler as Assistant Secretary of the Institution, and the 

 following resolution was adopted : 



'"'■Resolved, That the appointment M'^ the Secretary of Dr. Cyrus 

 Adler as Assistant Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, in 



