PRINCIPLES FOR APPLICATION IN THE UNITED STATES. 21 
ence with county clerks, postmasters, etc. This information derived 
from correspondence is often supplemented by the oral testimony of 
persons having personal knowledge of the name under consideration. 
The information needful for deciding^may be obtained quickly, within a 
day or two, or it may take months. When the executive committee 
is satisfied, it tabulates the results on library cards. These cards are 
printed blanks whereon places are left for entering various items of 
information. When all the information is tabulated the executive com- 
mittee of three record their preferences, signing their initials. Thus 
there is a record vote of the executive committee. The cards so pre- 
pared are submitted to the Board at its regular monthly meetings, and 
considered one by one. Usually the executive committee agree on 
their recommendations. Not infrequently, however, there is a divided 
report. The case being submitted to the Board, a vote is taken and a 
majority, not of those present, but of the whole Board, is necessary to 
decide. The decision so reached is written at the top of the card, which 
is thereupon stamped Approved, with the date of the approval. Usu- 
ally, from one to several cases, at each meeting, are by the Board sent 
back to the committee for additional investigation. A facsimile of one 
of these cards is printed herewith: 
Thing [Spur of Greylock Mountain, Berkshire 
named, f Co., Mass. 
Approved 
Aug. 10, 1897. 
Names. 
The Bluffs 
Stony Ledge 
Local usage, Stony Ledge. . . 
Authorities. 
U. S. Geol Survey, Greylock sheet. 
Berkshire Insurance Co.'s map. 
Walker's atlas. 
Berkshire County atlas. 
P. M. at South Williamstown. 
Submitted by Geol. 'Survey. 
Date July 13, 1897. 
This card prepared by Marcus Baker. 
Recommendation of executive committee. 
Stony Ledge M. . B. 
" ..A.H.A. 
...H. G. 0. 
Such is the present practice of the Board, a practice which has 
gradually developed as the outcome of experience. While experience 
has improved practice in the Board's operations, it has contributed 
practically nothing in the way of principles. The principles which 
govern decisions were at the outset considered and formulated with 
great painstaking and care. They were the subjects of many and 
earnest discussions and it is a matter as to which the Board congratu- 
lates itself that these principles so elaborated and adopted have so well 
stood the test of experience. The Board has found no occasion to add 
to or depart from the principles as originally established. 
