THE PROGRESS OF SCIENCE. 



665 



for free discussion. At the recent meet- 

 ing three topics were chiefly discussed. 

 Prof. Ira Remsen, of the Johns Hop- 

 kins University, introduced the subject 

 of migration among graduate students, 

 the general opinion being that it was 

 an advantage for the student to attend 

 more than a single university. Prof. 

 W. F. Magie, of Princeton University, 

 introduced a discussion on the type of 

 examination for the doctor's degree, 

 while Prof. W. R. Newbold, of the Uni- 

 versity of Pennsylvania, introduced the 

 related subject of the extent to which 

 the candidate should be required to 

 show knowledge of subjects not imme- 

 diately connected with his major sub- 

 ject. The consensus of opinion here 

 seemed to be that the student should 

 not be examined on courses he has 

 taken, but on the subject of his work 

 or research at the end of his university 

 residence. The third subject for discus- 

 sion, introduced by Prof. H. P. Jud- 

 son, of the University of Chicago, was 

 on fellowships; and here it seemed to 

 be the general opinion that the pro- 

 vision for university fellowships is so 

 large that there is danger that men 

 will proceed to investigation who are 

 not competent to do the best work. 

 The plan, suggested by a committee of 

 the American Association for the Ad- 

 vancement of Science, that a week be 

 set aside for the meetings of scientific 

 and learned societies was unanimously 

 approved. Columbia University has, in 

 accordance with the suggestion of this 

 committee, altered its schedule for next 

 year, so that the first full week after 

 Christmas may be used for a Convoca- 

 tion Week, and it is to be hoped that 

 other institutions will unite in this 

 movement, and that our various so- 

 cieties will next year meet during 

 the week with which the new year 

 begins. As Christmas occurs this 

 year on Wednesday, there is scarcely 

 time for the meetings during that week, 

 and it will consequently be necessary to 

 hold them the following week. 



The bill establishing a National Bu- 

 reau of Standards, which was passed by 

 Congress in the closing hours of the 

 session, is a measure of unusual impor- 

 tance for science and for industry. As 

 we have already pointed out, such an 

 institution has long been urgently 

 needed. Germany expends $116,000 an- 

 nually on its corresponding institutions, 

 and it is not difficult to trace an 

 immediate connection between its 

 Reichsanstalt and the supremacy of 

 German scientific instruments and the 

 increasing manufactures and export 

 trade of the nation. Great Britain has 

 recently been persuaded by the British 

 Association and the Royal Society to 

 extend its work, and is now erecting a 

 new physical laboratory, while it pro- 

 vides $62,000 annually for the cost of 

 its different institutions engaged in 

 standardizing and experimental tests. 

 In the United States the sum of only 

 $10,400 has hitherto been set aside for 

 the Bureau of Standard Weights and 

 Measures, which has now been con- 

 verted into a National Bureau of Stand- 

 ards. For the bureau a building is to 

 be erected which may cost $250,000, 

 though only $100,000 is at present ap- 

 propriated; $25,000 is allowed for land 

 and $10,000 for equipment. The sala- 

 ries amount to over $27,000 annually and 

 the sum of $5,000 is given for current 

 expenses. The bureau has been inau- 

 gurated under the most favorable aus- 

 pices. Urged by scientific men and so- 

 cieties, on the one hand, and by en- 

 gineers and manufacturers, on the other, 

 the bill passed both Houses of Con- 

 gress almost without opposition. This 

 was in large measure due to Secretary 

 Gage and to the Hon. James H. South- 

 ard, chairman of the Committee on 

 Coinage, Weights and Measures, who 

 gave the measure careful consideration 

 and, impressed with its importance, 

 used every effort to secure its passage. 

 President McKinley has already ap- 

 pointed a most excellent director in Pro- 

 fessor Stratton, who has now leave of 

 absence from the University of Chicago 

 to take charge of the Bureau of Weights 

 and Measures, and it is certain that the 



