Be it resolved, That the state of

hereby requests the Representatives of in the Congress of the United States to use all possible efforts to have placed on the free list, books pertaining to the physical, natural and medical sciences, and apparatus intended for purposes of scientific research or of education; and further be it

Resolved, That a copy of these preambles and resolutions be forwarded to each member of Congress."

These resolutions were sent, by resolution of the same society, to the faculties of the universities and colleges throughout the United States for their approval and signature. Replies expressing this approval and signed by the faculties, or their accredited officers, were received from the following institutions:

The American Philosophical Society, Philadelphia.

The Franklin Institute, Philadelphia.

The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia.

The County Medical Society, Philadelphia.

The Society of Arts, Boston.

Brown University, Providence, R. I.

Bryn Mawr College, Pa.

Wellesley College, Mass.

Iowa College, Iowa.

Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Mich.

Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.

Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md.

Middlebury College, Vt.

Hamilton College, Clinton, N. Y.

Swarthmore College, Pa.

Adelbert College, Ohio.

Williams College, Williamstown, Mass.

College of the City of New York.

University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Lafayette College, Easton, Pa.

Amherst Agricultural College, Amherst, Mass.

Haverford College, Pa.

Smith College, Mass.

Columbian University, Washington, D. C.

Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N. J.

University of Indiana, Indiana.

Lehigh University, Bethlehem, Pa.

University of California, Berkeley, Cal.

Hobart College, New York.

College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City.

University of North Carolina, N. C.

Columbia College School of Mines, New York City.

Union College, New York.

Kenyon College, Ohio.

Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.

Marietta College, Ohio.

University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
Cornell University, Ithaca, N. Y.

Hampden Sidney College, Va.

As regards the removal of duty from imported philosophical and scientific apparatus, your committee cannot report much progress. Our efforts have been mainly directed to the removal of the duty on books, under the belief that success in this direction will prepare the way for further progress. We have not, however, neglected this important subject. The Mills tariff bill thus refers to it (pp. 27 and 32):

(p. 32.) "And on and after October first, 1888, in lieu of the duties heretofore imposed on the articles hereinafter mentioned in this section, there shall be levied, collected and paid the following rates of duty on said articles severally :"

"Philosophical apparatus and instruments, twenty-five per centum ad

valorem."

Your committee hope to be able to secure the total abolition of the duties on foreign books of science, and the great reduction, if not abolition, of those on apparatus. We base this hope on the activity in the direction of change in the existing laws on this subject, at present existing in Congress, and the evident desire of the representatives of both the great political parties of the country to legislate for the best interests of their constituents, as they understand them. At the moment of preparing this report it is not possible to announce any final result of the action of your committee, but it is quite possible that improved legislation may be attained by the time of the meeting of the Association to which this report is made.

In conclusion we feel that what is needed to effect the result desired, is a continuation of the effort, already commenced, of vigorous protest against the laws on the subject as at present existing; laws which obstruct knowledge at its fountain-head; which impose onerous burdens on a class which works gratuitously for the public good, and which place our country in a false position among the enlightened nations of the earth.

EDW. D. COPE, Philadelphia, Chairman,

J. R. EASTMAN, U. S. Naval Observatory, Washington,
S. A. FORBES, Champaign, Ill.,

Committee.

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ANATOMICAL NOMENCLATURE WITH

SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE BRAIN.

WITH regard to encephalic nomenclature, the committee understand that three distinct tasks are to be performed:

A. The preparation of a list of those names which they regard as worthy of adoption; the terms to be in Latin, with appropriate equivalents (etymologically similar so far as possible), in English, French, German and Italian.

B. The formulation of comprehensive principles of anatomical nomenclature, and of rules that should govern the selection of existing terms and the formation of new ones.

C. The recommendation of descriptive terms to be used in indicating the position and direction of encephalic parts with respect to one another and the longitudinal axis.

These tasks are both extensive and difficult, and other and imperative duties have prevented the committee from devoting to them as much time as they had hoped; moreover, their attention has been called quite recently to certain publications in which the principles of anatomical nomenclature are somewhat fully discussed but which it has not been possible to examine as yet with the care which they deserve.

The committee therefore ask to be continued, and hope to have made visible progress by the time of the next meeting of the Association.

BURT G. WILDER, Chairman,

HARRISON ALLEN,

FRANK BAKER,

T. B. STOWEll,

Committee.

NOTE. The undersigned was out of the country at the time the above report was prepared and submitted, but now expresses his concurrence therein.

HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN.

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF GEOLOGISTS.

THE Committee on the International Geological Congress report that the papers prepared and brought to the Association at its meeting last year have been transmitted to the Congress, which is about to assemble in London. Their duties in this respect are done. The treasurer, Prof. H. S. Williams, reports that all the expenses incurred by the committee are paid and the accounts closed.

The secretary, Dr. Persifor Frazer, has in hand a subscription list for copies of the geological map of Europe, prepared by the International Geological Congress. One hundred copies are proposed to be subscribed for here and it is reported that ninety-four subscribers are secured.

The invitation for the Congress to hold its next session, that of 1891, in this country will be presented at the coming session of that Congress. With these duties performed the functions of the committee will end, and future business of the International Congress devolves upon the A. A. A. S. and the American Geological Society, which it is expected will act with Section E of this Association.

Report presented by

GEORGE H. Cook.

REPORT OF SPECIAL AGENT OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ASSOCIA

TION TO ACT WITH THE LOCAL COMMITTEES.

IN regard to the efforts to secure reduced fares for members attending the meeting: The membership of the A. A. A. S. being distributed over so large an extent of country several distinct Passenger Agents' Associations are included therein, each of which require separate negotiations in obtaining concessions. The rules and regulations of the associations are unlike, therefore unity and uniformity of action cannot be obtained of all, especially from those most distant from the place of meeting.

The rules of the principal associations are now such that the chairman of the association can, under definite limitations, grant concessions for fares without submitting the question to a vote of the passenger agents of the association.

The A. A. A. S. can feel reasonably certain of obtaining a concession in the Passenger Association where the meeting is held, also in the adjacent associations, of a fare and one-third for the round trip, on the certificate plan and three days' limit.

The requirements of such a concession are that one hundred members attend the meeting from two of the associations. This does not meet all cases, but is the best which can be obtained without a special vote by the different Passenger Agents' Associations, which is no easy matter to obtain.

For the Cleveland meeting I applied to the principal associations for a concession of our fare for the round trip and an extension of the three days' limit. Neither was granted.

Before the associations will take any official action for a reduction of rates, an application must be filed stating the name of the organization, place of meeting, date of meeting, the probable number in attendance and the name of the secretary who will sign the certificates.

All of this information can be furnished by the agent except the name of the secretary who is to sign the certificates.

The name of the latter should be designated by the Local Committee for the next meeting by the first of January, 1889.

The date of the meeting should be counted from the time the council meets and adjourns.

P. H. DUDLEY, Honorary Agent.