UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 
BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 
ASTROPHYSICAL OBSERVATORY 
NATIONAL AIR MUSEUM 
NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL PARK 
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 
Washinc/lon 25,D.C. 
US. A. 
NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART 
NATIONAL COLLECTION OF FINE ARTS 
FREER GALLERY OF ART 
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE SERVICE 
CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA 
Dr. Alexander Wetmore, 
Parita, Herrera, 
^Republic of Panama. 
Dear Dr. Wetmore: 
March 5 , 
We had our hearings before the Senate Committee Tuesday, and I thought it 
was a pretty good hearing. It is just as well that we did request a hearing 
because all of the other agencies were called up to explain increases in the 
cost of personnel. All of us were provided with a table showing the average 
cost of increases of personnel from 1939 to 1949 estimated. Fortunately in our 
case, the Gallery had been included and we made a simple statement that the 
table was of no value to us, as it included the Gallery which is on a separate 
appropriation, and that they had no right to include them. We then made the 
point that this was not new to us since we had considered this angle for two 
years before the House Committee, and Jack handed the chairman a copy of our 
House Hearings showing our printed table. The chairman was very much interested 
He not only studied the table but he started to read the hearings. I was a 
little afraid he might get into that section relating to the International 
Exchange Service, but he tossed the copy back to us and we went on with the 
hearing. It was a good hearing but a bit disorderly. Sometimes two of us 
were talking at once and in at least one case three of us were talking together. 
In addition to the chairman (Peed), McKellar, Green, and Saltonstall were 
present, and we had a good chance to plow a statement into the Eecord. 
Saltonstall was definitely Interested in publication funds, and I would not be 
surprised if we might receive an increase. In view of the fact that only two 
agencies were asking for^ add i tional funds, the hearing was a brief one. Since 
I feared that the bill weSe marked up rapidly I immediately got in touch with 
the regents’ offices without trying to get in touch with the regents themselves. 
It happened that all of them were out, and I would probably have had to wait 
for several days to contact them. I received very good offers of cooperation, 
and I think we have done everything we can. At least we will hope for worth¬ 
while returns. I dare say the bill will not be acted upon before you return. 
If it should, I would contact some House regents and be sure that we might have 
some support in conference. 
Jack Keddy called to my attention that the resolution giving us basic 
authority for B.A.E. and A.P.O. had passed the Committee but apparently could 
not get on the floor of the House, since, according to the reports that Jack 
obtained, the Speaker would not recognize the Chairman. I called Mr. Vorys 
and talked with him on the phone this morning, and he said he would look into 
the matter and report back as to what might be possible. 
The Arthur Lecture went off very well the other night, but I think Dr. 
Spinden had too many slides. The lecture maintained its age-old reputation 
