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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 845 
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MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO.
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THE SECRETARY'S STATEMENT.

[[underlined]] Solar Researches [[/underlined]]

The Secretary explained the development of the studies he had been conducting in Solar Research, exhibiting charts showing curves illustrating the changes that had been observed. These he described, and brought out especially the changes noted in the temperatures of Washington, D.C.

[[underlined]] The New Retirement Act [[/underlined]]

The Secretary said that the new act was now before the President and only awaits his signature to become a law. 

It carries a clause providing "That after August 20, 1930, no employee shall be continued in the civil service of the United States beyond the age of retirement for more than four years," to which an amendment has been added providing that "except that where the head of the department or establishment certifie[[overwritten]] d [[/overwritten]]^[[s]], and the Civil Service Commission agrees, that by reason of expert knowledge and special qualifications the continuance of the employee would be advantageous to the public service, further extensions of two years may be grated."

This action makes possible the continuance in the service of the Institution certain members of the staff who would otherwise have to retire on August 20, 1930. 

[[underlined]] The James Arthur Bequest [[/underlined]]

The Secretary stated that beginning in 1911, letters had been received from a Mr. James Arthur, of New York City, asking certain information, including problems in mathematics, which had all been carefully answered. Recently, word had been received that Mr. Arthur had bequeathed to the Institution the sum of $75,000, the income of which was to be used for 

[[initials]] CGA [[/initials]]