Page 2. 
Dr. Wetmore 
There are so many dissents to some of these proposals as printed in the 
record that there is a question as to how many of them will he approved. The 
enclosed Kiplinger letter will furnish more information on this point. 
As to Smithsonian affairs, the resolution appointing Hunsiker is through 
the House, and I assume you have already been informed that the Senate regents 
are appointed. Owing to the filibuster I have only found it possible to 
call on Senator Anderson. He is very deeply interested in the Smithsonian 
and especially in Indians. I think he will make an excellent regent. I 
called Cannon's office regarding the bill for basic authority, and apparently 
they had misplaced your letter since they had a hard time finding it. His 
secretary promised prompt action, and it has now been reported in the House. 
I think the Committee on House Administration will want hearings on that 
and on the Curtis Bill (the one favored by Schultz of Nebraska). We will, 
of course, argue for the draft which was prepared with the aid of the Budget 
last year and which would still give us full control of all such allotments 
for anthropological or other work in the River Basins. Contacts with 
Shelesnyak are now under way for the Point Barrow work. Roberts and 
Shelesnyak have been in conference. In case the Laboratory (Navy) charges 
a possible $1,000 for their part in the job, this whole trip would run to 
about $2,900 including salary, which is quite steep. I told Shelesnyak that 
we could not transfer Smithsonian private funds on transfer voucher and I 
hoped that the Navy would not require any added funds for their part in this 
undertaking. This possible cost is apparently the per head expense the Navy 
must stand for flying the men around up in Alaska, the cost of tranporting 
supplies, etc. Geological Survey does not have to pay since they are doing 
the work for the Navy. Whether we would be expected to pay would depend on 
how the Commodore's digestion is when the proposition is put up to him. While 
you did not indicate how much you were willing to spend on this trip, you did 
show a great deal of interest in having it worked out; and we will go ahead, 
keeping the expense as low as possible. 
The Handley trip got somewhat fouled up. According to Shelesnyak, some 
of the men who have been on this assignment are quite bitter about the way 
it is handled. The question of Arctic clothing was also a difficult one since 
it is impossible to obtain good light-weight Eskimo materials. It looked for 
a while as if the clothing bill would be a very expensive one, but Kellogg 
and Handley were able to make arrangements through Siple and they are furnishing 
the clothing to us as a loan. It is apparently very heavy and not so useful 
as the Eskimo material would be; but if Handley exercises caution, it will at 
least be safe. I think the rest of Handley's outfit is coming through all 
right, but it has taken a lot of work owing to the very short notice given us. 
I contacted Representative Cannon relative to your memorandum to me 
regarding the top bracket pay bill. I don't think there is the foggiest 
chance of having any more additions to this list since if the bars are let 
down, there will be thousands of candidates and that would defeat the entire bill. 
I am also enclosing a copy of a letter just received from Carriker. I'll 
bet Mel's face was red when he realized that the delay in getting that shotgun 
put in order was entirely his own fault. We expect to get the parts off to 
him Monday. 
