(4) In general discussions the ten-minute rule shall be enforced.

(5) No speaker shall be recognized a second time on any one subject while any delegate who has not spoken thereon desires to do so.

(6) The hours of meeting and adjournment adopted with the general programme shall be closely observed, unless changed by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present.

(7) The presiding officer shall enforce the parliamentary rules usual in such assemblies and not inconsistent with the foregoing.

(8) Vacancies which may arise in the membership of standing committees by death, resignation, or separation from the association of members shall be filled by the committees, respectively.

PROCEEDINGS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURAL COLLEGES AND EXPERIMENT STATIONS.

MINUTES OF THE GENERAL SESSION.

MORNING SESSION, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1906.

The convention was called to order at 10 o'clock a. m., at the Istrouma Hotel, Baton Rouge, by the president, M. H. Buckham.

The proceedings were opened with prayer by the Rev. Louis Tucker, of Baton Rouge.

After the call of the roll of States the report of the executive committee was presented by the chairman of the committee, H. C. White, of Georgia, as follows:

REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.

The executive committee appointed at the nineteenth annual convention of the association held at Washington, D. C., November 14-16, 1905, met immediately upon adjournment of the convention and organized by the selection of President H. C. White, of Georgia, as chairman. An abstract memorandum of the proceedings of the convention of 1905 was prepared by the chairman and posted to each member of the association under date of December 10, 1905. The proceedings in full were edited by the chairman and placed in the hands of the Office of Experiment Stations, U. S. Department of Agriculture, for publication January 10, 1906. Eight subsequent meetings of the committee were held: At Washington, D. C., December 1-2, 1905; January 20, February 12-13, March 30, April 16, and June 10, and at Baton Rouge, La., November 13, 1906. Individual members of the committee made other visits to Washington in the interest of the association. Ten circulars of information were issued and posted to members of the association. The final call for the present (twentieth) annual convention was issued August 2, and the programme for the convention, as prepared by the committee, November 1, 1906.

The last convention, by unanimous and enthusiastic vote, requested the executive committee to consider favorably an invitation to hold the present convention in California immediately preceding the proposed annual meeting of the National Educational Association in that State. Immediately after the adjournment of the convention the committee on graduate study addressed a formal communication to the executive committee, stating the belief that a meeting of the association in California at the time proposed would interfere seriously with the graduate school, which the association had authorized and the committee had undertaken, to be held at the University of Illinois in July, 1906. This communication was submitted by circular to the members of the association, with request for expression of opinion, in view of the conflicting instructions of the convention. After careful consideration of the replies received, the executive committee advised the committee on graduate study to proceed with arrangements for the graduate school in July, and decided to hold the convention in California in August. Considerable trouble and delay were experienced in securing satisfactory railroad rates, but, this finally accomplished,

a call was issued April 6 for the convention of 1906 in California, beginning August 8. The disastrous calamities of earthquake and fire on the Pacific coast April 18, involving the abandonment of the proposed meeting of the National Educational Association, made necessary the withdrawal of this call May 14, with the reluctant consent of our intending hosts in California, and the decision was then reached to accept the courteous invitation of the authorities of Louisiana, of Baton Rouge, and the Louisiana State University, to hold the convention in Baton Rouge in November.

The most noteworthy event of the year was the final passage by Congress of the Adams bill (approved March 16, 1906) to increase the annual appropriations to the agricultural experiment stations. Your committee had several conferences with Mr. Adams before and during the session of Congress, and the terms of the act as approved are, it is hoped, satisfactory to members of the association. Mr. Adams gave himself unsparingly to the advocacy of the bill, your committee aided him to the full extent of its ability, and members of the association responded promptly and efficiently to the requests of the committee to make known to members of Congress the merits of the measure. The extent to which it commended itself to the statesmanship of the nation is shown in the fact that not one vote was recorded against its passage in either House of Congress, and it was immediately approved by the President when submitted to him for consideration.

A question of interpretation of the clause of the act indicating the first fiscal year for which the appropriations were provided arose in the office of the Comptroller of the Treasury. To cure any possible defect and to make plain the intent of the act, Mr. Adams proposed a declaratory amendment to the appropriation bill for the Department of Agriculture, then pending in the Senate. The Secretary of Agriculture heartily approved the amendment, drafted it in proper form, and submitted it, with his official approval, to the Senate committee. The Senate bill was delayed in passage by the discussion which arose in connection with the meat-inspection provisions which it carried, but finally passed Congress with the declaratory amendment, as submitted by the Secretary of Agriculture, on June 30. The appropriations provided by the Adams Act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1906, were duly paid over to the stations by the Treasury shortly thereafter. The attention of the association is called to the important fact that the present Comptroller of the Treasury has, furthermore, expressed the opinion that the terms of the Adams Act do not provide for appropriations beyond the fiscal year ending June 30, 1911. Unless this ruling shall be changed in the interim it will behoove the representatives of the association to be vigilant at the proper time to secure necessary Congressional action to continue the appropriations. This should not be difficult, as it would probably involve only maintaining the maximum amount in the regular appropriation bill carrying the appropriations to the stations. In this connection it may be proper to report that your committee became aware of a strong sentiment in Congress favorable to the repeal of the so-called continuing appropriations' acts-those making "permanent and indefinite appropriations." A bill to this effect (H. R. 8991) was introduced December 18, 1905, by Hon. James A. Tawney, chairman of the House Committee on Appropriations. Your committee is uncertain of the probable effect of such repeal upon the Hatch Act, the Morrill (1890) Act, and the Adams Act, but it might involve the necessity for specific action by Congress, either once for all or at each session, to protect the appropriations made by them. Your committee communicated immediately with Mr. Tawney, asking an opportunity to be heard in favor of exempting the acts named from the operation of his bill when it should be considered in committee. Other important matters prevented such consideration during the last session of Congress, but your committee is assured that a hearing will be granted before the bill is reported from committee. Attention should be given at the proper time by the representatives of the association to this important matter. Obeying the instructions of the association given at the last annual convention, "to safeguard the interests of all measures in Congress affecting the association, "but to concentrate its efforts at any particular session upon the bill or bills which may seem to be in the most favorable condition for passage, your committee devoted its energies chiefly to securing the passage of the Adams Act at the last session of Congress. Mr. Mondell reintroduced the mining school bill, and the committee cooperated actively with him in efforts to obtain consideration for the bill. The mutual endeavors were,

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a U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Bul. 164, p. 46,

however, without avail. The bill, in the form familiar to the association, is still on the Union Calendar of the House, and may receive consideration at the short session of Congress beginning in December.

Mindful of the interest expressed by resolution of the association in the establishment of forestry instruction in the land-grant colleges, your committee conferred with the chief officers of the Forest Service and others interested in the matter, and suggested the abandonment of a pending bill in this interest and a substitute modification of the Mondell bill to provide for forestry instruction. The suggestion was favorably received, but the great pressure of other important business in Congress has caused the whole matter to lie in abeyance. It may be taken up again at the pleasure of the association.

"to

In appearance before Congressional committees in connection with the Adams bill and on other appropriate occasions, your committee took care request Congress to continue the policy that it has adopted in the Morrill bill, the supplementary bill, and the Hatch Act, according to the lines there laid down," and also to present "the claims of the experiment stations to the proper support and consideration of Congress," aş instructed by the association.b Your committee also advocated that authority be given the Office of Experiment Stations of the Department of Agriculture to carry on "its work of promoting the cause of agricultural education in the United States." Due attention was also given to proposed legislation affecting the interests of the association, as, for example, the bills introduced simultaneously in the Senate and House proposing appropriations to State normal schools for agricultural education. Fortunately, perhaps, the major portion of such proposed legislation rarely reaches the stage which may be regarded as hopeful, or dangerous, according to the point of view.

Very important questions which may arise in connection with the administration and use of the Adams funds have had the serious consideration of your committee. They have also engaged the attention of the association's standing committee on station organization and policy. The report of the latter committee to be made to this convention will probably deal with some of these questions. It is recommended that in the discussion of that report a full and free expression of views be given by members of the association to the end that the important and useful work of the agricultural experiment stations in the several States may gain greatest value from the additions now made to their resources. The Director of the Office of Experiment Stations of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, who has been designated to represent the Secretary of Agriculture in so much of the administration of the Adams Act as pertains to Federal authority, is a member of this association, and will no doubt contribute much of value to the discussion.

Proper initiative steps were taken by your committee to secure the creation of a department on rural education in the National Educational Association. It was ascertained that it was necessary to secure the signatures of not less than twenty active members of the National Educational Association to a memorial requesting the consent of the council of the association to the formation of a new department as indicated, to be presented to the council immediately in advance of an annual meeting of the association. The memorial was prepared and copies distributed for signatures. In this matter your committee was fortunate to secure the valuable services of Mr. Dick J. Crosby, of the Office of Experiment Stations, United States Department of Agriculture, who conducted all the correspondence and cared for all details involved. The abandonment of the 1906 meeting of the National Educational Association made it unnecessary to proceed further in the matter at that time. Your committee would ask the association to consider whether it would not be wise to instruct the executive committee to present the memorial to the council of the National Educational Association only at a time when it is assured that a sufficient number of members of this association or others equally interested in the subject are present at the meeting of the National Educational Association to insure the success and value of the proposed new department.

In December, 1905, your committee, through the chairman, addressed a communication to President Henry S. Pritchett, of the board of trustees of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, asking the board respect

a U. S. Dept. Agr., Office of Experiment Stations Bul. 164, p. 53.

b Ibid., p. 46.

c Ibid., p. 56.

d Ibid., p. 47.

fully to consider the propriety and advisability of including the land-grant colleges among the beneficiary institutions of the Foundation. A courteous reply explained that the trustees were not then prepared to consider the matter. Under date of September 28, 1906, however, President Pritchett has written the chairman that the board of trustees will consider the question of extending the benefits of the Foundation at a meeting to be held in New York City, November 21, 1906, and at that time they would be glad to receive a statement from the land-grant colleges and hear from their representative in person, if desired. In view of the near approach of the date indicated, your committee has prepared a statement setting forth the reasons why, in its judgment, the land-grant colleges might properly share in the benefits of the Foundation. The association is asked to determine at this convention whether and in what manner this or a similar statement shall be presented to the board of trustees of the Carnegie Foundation on November 21. Your committee extended a cordial invitation to President Pritchett to attend this convention of the association, and greatly regret that other engagements prevent his acceptance of the invitation.

For the third consecutive year it is the sorrowful duty of your committee to announce to the association the death of one of its distinguished founders. Following fast the demise of Major Alvord in 1904 and of President Goodell in 1905, President George W. Atherton, of Pennsylvania, departed this life July 24, 1906. Foremost among those who organized this association; ever chief among the wisest of its councillors; its first president and continued in office for several terms by unanimous desire; member for many years of its executive committee; devoted to the interests of the association and its purposes, and lavish in his expenditure of personal effort in its service, his departure from our ranks is a personal grief and the occasion of sorrowful regret to each member of this body.

With this sad announcement of the death of the first member of the association must be linked that of its latest benefactor. Hon. Henry Cullen Adams, of Wisconsin, author and achiever of the latest national legislation in benefaction of agricultural research and agricultural progress, died on July 9, 1906, only a few weeks after the approval of the great act which will forever bear his name. There is little doubt that his incessant labors in behalf of this beneficent legislation entailed the strain which brought his frail physical powers to the breaking point. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

Your committee has thought it eminently appropriate that the names of these two great and worthy men should be joined in an hour set apart during the proceedings of this convention to an expression of respect and esteem for their gracious memories.

The finances of the association have been economically administered, all obligations met, and a satisfactory balance left in the treasury. Respectfully submitted for the committee.

H. C. WHITE, Chairman.

On motion, the report was received and ordered placed on file.

CARNEGIE FOUNDATION.

On motion of G. E. Fellows, of Maine, the chairman of the executive committee was selected as a delegate to represent the land-grant colleges at the meeting of the trustees of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching November 21, 1906.

REPORT OF TREASURER.

J. L. Hills, of Vermont, secretary and treasurer of the association, presented the following report:

Report of treasurer, November 14, 1905, to November 14, 1906.