REPORT OF COMMITTEE OX POLICY L°>7 



4. We find that teachers, members of State Surveys, and economic geologists 

 of various kinds have not failed to receive due share of recognition, and, fur- 

 ther, that there is no basis for criticism that aristocracy, provincialism, or 

 local or class distinction of any kind has developed in the Society. The value 

 of the teacher to the Society has been recognized by the trainers of the Con- 

 stitution and apparently by all of the successive Councils, for economic geol- 

 ogists and all other kinds of geologists who give promise of cooperating in the 

 advancement of the science have always been welcomed. It has thus far been 

 the experience that the best, though not the only, kind of evidence on this 

 point is the quality of the candidate's publications. 



5. The Geological Society of America need feel no concern over possible 

 competing organizations. On the other hand, we may rejoice in the existence 

 and prosperity of such organizations as the American Association of Petro- 

 leum Geologists and the Southwestern Geological Society. 



6. As to the men outside who should be Fellows, we would remark that 

 some one outside the Council must go to the trouble of proposing their names, 

 and this might appropriately be done by those to whom their names occur. 

 However, it has been found that out of the list of fourteen names of men who 

 should be Fellows, submitted with the letters referred to, only five have been 

 offered to the Council. One was elected in 1916, one in 1920, and two in 1921 ; 

 only one has been disapproved by three Councils. It would seem desirable to 

 urge upon all Fellows the desirability of seeing to it that names of worthy 

 candidates are submitted, together with full information regarding them. 



We realize that there are engaged in professional work many geologists 

 whose ideals and attainments are fully the equal of those possessed by Fellows 

 of the Society, but in general the Council has found no way of appraising such 

 men accurately, in the absence of a record in publication. Even in those cases 

 where the Council may have had evidence of the qualifications of certain of 

 such men, the Fellowship, which holds the final decision, has repeatedly shown 

 its unwillingness to elect men without such printed record. 



We believe that every geologist should use his best efforts to change the 

 policy of secrecy on the part of some corporations, and to make it plain that 

 scientific publication and sound private business are not in the least incom- 

 patible. 



All persons are welcome at the meetings of the Society. 



Your committee finds that there has been no appreciable difference in age 



of elected candidates by decades since the organization of the Society. The 



average age when elected is between thirty and thirty-two years. Nor has 



there been any marked change in the numbers of those admitted to the Society. 



Respectfully submitted, 



Eugene W. Shaw, Chairman. 

 Jay B. Woodworth. 

 T. Wayland Vaughax. 

 George F. Kay. 

 George D. Louderback. 

 James F. Kemp, ex officio. 



Upon the conclusion of the reading of the foregoing report, the Society 

 proceeded with the consideration of scientific papers. 



