9 
3 
UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY 
NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM 
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
77f'rs/tiny ton 2A, I). (7. 
(7X A. 
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS 
FREER GALLERY OF ART 
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE 
CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 
VIA AIR MAIL 
March 1, 1951 
Dr* A. Wetmore 
c/o Mr. James Zetek 
Drawer C 
Balboa, Canal Zone 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
You will perhaps recall that the Regents at their last meeting took 
action with regard to temporary, private fund employees, as follows: 
RESOLVED: That subject to the subsequent investi¬ 
gation and approval of the Executive Committee the 
Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution do 
hereby consent to the extension of the insurance 
system established by title II of the Social Security 
Act (Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance 
Benefits) to service performed by such temporary 
and indefinite employees of the Smithsonian Institution 
paid from trust funds as the Secretary may designate; 
It was the feeling at that meeting (as I recollect - nothing in 
minutes) that it might be best to talk the whole matter over with the Col¬ 
lector of Interna]. Revenue to be certain that inclusion of the temporary, 
private fund employees under Social Security would not jeopardize the 
status of the permanent, private fund employees now under Civil Service 
retirement. Mr. Fleming offered to be present at such a conference. 
In discussing the matter with Messrs. Cairns and Adams yesterday, Mr. 
Cairns suggested that we avoid such a conference - instead send in the two 
forms required, the first, SS-15 requesting inclusion of the Smithsonian 
Institution under Social Security and the second, SS-15a bearing the sig¬ 
natures and addresses of the temporary employees to be included thereunder. 
It is his opinion that it would go through without question, and If ques¬ 
tion were raised we would be no worse off than if we had brought up the 
subject at a preliminary conference with Internal Revenue. 
Mr. Cairns appears to be worried that a preliminary conference might 
bring up a legal question at Internal Revenue which could extend back to 
Civil Service. He feels the latter should be avoided since Mr. Ramspeck 
will soon head Civil Service Commission and he was the man who, when In 
