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Smithsonian Institution  713
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work developed and as specific needs were made manifest. The vital need at the moment is to secure $2,000,000 additional endowment, or pending such an addition to the endowment, unrestricted additional funds of a least $100,000 per annum.

In connection with our future progress, it is believed that an [[underline]]annual[[/underline]] meeting, similar to our meeting of February 11th, open by invitation to the public, at which meeting the work of the Institution during the last year might be fittingly illustrated, could be held (as a regular feature) with great advantage. This annual meeting might very properly be the occasion for awarding suitable medals to scientists who have greatly advanced the cause of research. It appears to your Committee that the Smithsonian Institution, although well known all over the world by its valued publications, has been, if anything, over-modest, and while colleges, private and State, keep before the public through their annual commencement exercises, the Smithsonian Institution has had no similar opportunity to present to the public its achievements and its needs.

If your Committee can assume that your honorable Board is in accord with it in this general view of the situation, we believe that our first duty is to find the most competent man, prominent in science, for the position of [[underlined]]Secretary[[/underlined]]. We believe that in doing this, we must not confine ourselves to the present staff of the Institution. Your Committee has considered the names of over twenty men. Three men now connected with the Smithsonian are included in this number. We think the position should attract men measuring up in ability with the presidents of our largest universities. Your will realize that it is a difficult position to fill because while it requires primarily the scientific preeminence, already referred to , it also demands administrative capacity and the ability to meet the public and to present to Congress the needs of the Institution. [[initialed]]CGA[[/initialed]]