REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 
15 
membership. Of almost equal importance, however, is the thought 
given by the society’s members to its welfare throughout the year 
and their interest in attracting new members into its fellowship. 
It is because it measures up to these standards so splendidly that 
the Iowa Academy of Science ranks so high among similar organi- 
zations the nation over. The meeting last year was one of the 
best attended and had the fullest program of any of the Academy’s 
gatherings. The fact that there is a call for recognition in the 
constitution of the sectional organization of the Academy shows 
that the continued growth in membership and in number of papers 
presented has made the meeting by sections a permanent part 
of the Academy’s plans. 
Affiliation with the American Association for the Advancement 
of Science has been perfected in accordance with the constitution 
and bylaws of that body. In accordance with those provisions our 
Academy is entitled to a representative on the Council of the Asso- 
ciation. The President of the Academy appointed the Secretary 
as that representative for the recent meeting at Chicago and it 
will be well that some one shall represent us at the coming meeting 
at Toronto. This affiliation is a benefit to the Academy financially 
and it should be helpful also in a scientific way, uniting us with 
the great forces of progress throughout the country at large. 
It is a matter of sincere regret to the Secretary that it has been 
impossible to make any progress with the publication of the Pro- 
ceedings of the Iowa City meeting. The law which abolished the 
offices of state printer and binder and provided for printing by 
contract stated that no contracts could be let at prices in excess 
of those specified under the old system. When costs of material 
and labor mounted so high printers could not or would not sub- 
mit bids within the legal limits. Hence it has been impossible for 
a year to have any reports published. The recent legislature has 
enacted a new law creating a printing board and it is hoped that 
this board will soon be able to carry on the State’s printing 
business in a more normal way and issue its reports in a reason- 
able length of time. 
The plan which was adopted last year, of an editorial com- 
mittee to assist the Secretary in editing the manuscripts sub- 
mitted, has proved very acceptable. The members of the com- 
mittee have been most kind in reading the papers assigned 
them, and have as well made most trenchant, though kindly and 
helpful) criticisms. May I quote briefly from one of these? 
The writer says: '‘All men sin more or less when it comes to 
