XIV JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS. 



the Supreme Court of the Uuited States, where it was argued ou the 

 12th instant. 



The entire property, provided the suit in the Supreme Court was 

 favorably decided, would amount to about $30,000; otherwise, to about 

 $24,000. The houses were in good condition, and were bringing a fair 

 rental. 



Miss Avery had presented a claim of $6,000 as compensation for the 

 very trying duties she had to perform in the care of her uncle. She 

 prosecuted her suit before the Probate Court, and the Permanent Com- 

 mittee had come to the conclusion, when the facts were presented, that 

 it would be better that she should be settled with than to go to a jury, 

 and they compromised on a settlement of $4,500. She now offered to 

 take the property at that figure in lieu of the money, and the Commit- 

 tee thought it was advisable to accept the offer; but the attorney 

 recently called attention to the fact that there was a doubt as to the 

 conveyance and the making of deeds by the Institution. 



It seemed to him (Senator Henderson) that if the Institution were 

 authorized to hold property, it should certainly also by some means be 

 authorized to convey or exchange this property. The rental of this 

 particular piece did not much more than pay taxes and it was con- 

 sidered desirable to get rid of it. In order to meet the difficulty as to 

 conveyance, he would offer the following resolution, expressing the 

 opinion that it was the best arrangement that could be made : 



Resolved by the Board of Regents, That the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution 

 is authorized and empowered to sell and convey, on such terms as may seem to him 

 most beneficial to the Institution, any and all lands, town lots, and improvements 

 thereon, which were devised or conveyed to said institution by R. S. Avery, deceased. 



And in the execution of the power hereby conferred on him, the Secretary shall 

 execute to the vendees, respectively, written conveyances signed and acknowledged 

 by himself as Secretary aforesaid, and attested by the seal of the Smithsonian 

 Institution. 



Senator Henderson stated that this covered the matters under the 

 charge of the Permanent Committee, except one of minor importance, 

 which had already been before the Board, namely, the question as to 

 whether Congress should be asked to remit taxes on real estate belong- 

 ing to the Institution. 



The Chancellor said that three matters were under consideration : 



1. In regard to the report. On motion, the report was accepted. 



2. On the adoption of the resolution witb regard to conveying real 

 estate. On motion, tbe resolution was adopted. 



3. A general discussion then ensued in regard to the exemption from 

 taxation of the Avery property, and while no formal action was taken, 

 the prevailing opinion was that it was better to pay the taxes than to 

 ask exemption of Congress. 



The Secretary announced his acceptance of the resignation of Prof. 

 Charles D. Walcott as Acting Assistant Secretary in Charge of the 

 National Museum, to take effect on July 1, 1898, and requested the 



