In view of what has transpired at Washington since our last meeting, the extent of which only members of our legislative committee realize—­for almost to a man the lower House was opposed to the appropriation, and it was only by arduous, strenuous, and noble work of our president and the members of that committee that the results were attained—­I offer the following resolution: 

Resolved, That the thanks of the board are due, and are hereby tendered, to the members of the legislative committee for securing an appropriation to defray our necessary expenses and thereby achieving the honorable emancipation of the board.

Resolved, That the board extend a vote of thanks to itself for the wisdom manifested in the selection of Mrs. Daniel Manning as its president, who has so fully enlisted the best efforts of all the members of the board and who has begun her work by showing that deeds rather than words are of special value.

The resolution was adopted by unanimous rising vote.

On the following day President Francis addressed the board as follows: 

I am very glad to have this opportunity to talk to you.  I desire to congratulate you upon your getting the appropriation from Congress for $100,000.  I was very willing, indeed, as all the members of the executive committee were, to do what we could toward securing the money.  After your worthy president waited upon the executive committee and was informed of our plan to ask a loan of $4,500,000 from the Treasury, she in turn informed us that the board of lady managers had decided to ask for $100,000 for their own use, we very readily came to an agreement to the effect that we would join forces and see what we could accomplish with Congress.  As you are aware, it is a very difficult matter to get money out of Congress at best, and when the Government had already spent about $1,250,000 for its own exhibit, and when we had promised that we would not apply to Congress or appeal for any additional aid, the circumstances under which we made that deal or presented that bill were especially trying, and I think we all deserve to be congratulated upon the outcome.

When I went to Washington I found your president at the Capitol with Mrs. Montgomery.  They had all worked assiduously and had made considerable headway in the Senate—­in which body it was our plan to introduce the bill in the shape of an amendment to the urgent deficiency bill.

While the matter was pending in the Senate the question of this $100,000 was brought up.  We very promptly assured the ladies that this amount would be added to our bill asking for a loan of $4,500,000.  We preferred, of course, that we should not be expected to repay it.  However, the bill was presented and passed and this $100,000 is to be paid over to the board of lady managers upon their order, and for such purposes