REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 3 



National Museum, and the Board passed a resolution modifying the 

 terms of the appointment of Mr. Richard Rathbun as Assistant Secre- 

 tary, so that his services might be utilized wherever it was deemed 

 best for the interests of the Institution. 



The report of a special committee, of which Mr. Hubbard had been 

 chairman, was submitted by General Henderson, pointing out the need 

 for the National Museum of a new building, as well as an increase in 

 the scientific staff and a definite purchasing fund; for the Bureau of 

 American Ethnology the desirability of the passage of a law declaring 

 archaeological sites on the public domain public monuments; and for 

 the National Zoological Park the need of greater facilities for the 

 purchase and housing of animals. 



With regard to the recommendation of the desirability of the passage 

 of a law declaring archaeological sites on the public domain public 

 monuments, a form of proposed legislation has been prepared which 

 may later be brought to the attention of the Congressional Regents in 

 their legislative capacity. 



There was also a further suggestion of the form which the reports of 

 bureau officers on the property in their charge should assume, all of 

 which matters have had the Secretary's attention. 



At the beginning of the Spanish-American war the Hon. Joseph 

 Wheeler, a regent, was appointed major-general of United States Vol- 

 unteers, and went with the army to Cuba, where his service is matter 

 of public record. Dr. Andrew D. White, a regent, has been appointed 

 ambassador to Germany, and Dr. James B. Angell, another regent, 

 minister to Turkey. These gentlemen are still regents, though the 

 Institution has during the year been deprived of their valued services. 



ADMINISTRATION. 



As the business of the Institution itself and of the various Govern- 

 ment bureaus under its direction increases from year to year, the question 

 of administration and of a proper division of its cost among the various 

 bureaus becomes more pressing. It has been the purpose of the Secre- 

 tary to delegate to those in immediate charge of the bureaus as much 

 authority as is consistent with his responsibilities to the Board of 

 Regents and to Congress. The gradual growth of the bureaus both in 

 number and importance has thrown into the Secretary's office a very 

 considerable amount of clerical labor pertaining almost exclusively to 

 Government work, and while the cost of clerical service for this central 

 control has been divided among the bureaus where practicable, yet 

 the limited income of the Institution must be drawn upon in larger 

 measure than seems proper until a suitable time for the organization 

 of a force, paid from an appropriation specifically for this purpose. 

 The Board has already authorized the Secretary to call upon Congress 

 for such an appropriation, but each year obstacles have arisen render- 

 ing action inexpedient. 



