SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 423 



of the latter as are nonengineering in character would be transferred 

 to other departments. The new department would include the following 

 existing organizations: Supervising Architect's Office, Construction 

 Division of the Army, several engineering commissions now under the 

 War Department, Bureau of Standards, Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

 Bureau of Public Roads, and Forest Service. Referred to the Com- 

 mittee on Public Lands. 



On July 22 the House passed H. R. 6810, the "Prohibition Bill," 

 introduced by Mr. Volstead: "To prohibit intoxicating beverages 

 and to regulate the manufacture, production, use and sale of high- 

 proof spirits for other than beverage purposes, and to insure an ample 

 supply of alcohol, and promote its use in scientific research and in the 

 development of fuel, dye, and other lawful industries." One of the 

 amendments accepted on July 2 1 just before the final passage of the bill 

 was as follows: "That alcohol may be withdrawn, under regulations, 

 from any industrial plant or bonded warehouse, tax free for the use of the 

 United States or any governmental agency thereof, for the several 

 States and Territories, and the District of Columbia, and for the use 

 of any scientific university or college of learning, any laboratory for use 

 exclusively in scientific research, or any hospital not conducted for 

 profit." 



Of local interest are S. 2537 (Mr. France) and H. R. 6237 (Mr. 

 Lazaro, by request): "To. revive with amendments an act entitled, 

 'An act to incorporate the Medical Society of the District of Colum- 

 bia."' Referred to the Committees on the District of Columbia. 



THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS COMMISSION AND THE SCIENTIFIC BUREAUS 



« 



The space available for the Geological Survey, the Bureau of Mines, 

 and other scientific and technologic branches of the Interior Depart- 

 ment has been considerably reduced by the action of the Public Build- 

 ings Commission, according to the report of that Commission made to 

 the Senate on July 8. Re- allotments of space have also been made in 

 the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Navy, Treasury, and War, 

 as well as in the various special war organizations. The apparent 

 saving to the Government "from the vacating of rented buildings is 

 estimated at about $350,000. The Geological Survey is restricted to 

 about one-half the floor space it now occupies. Realizing that the work 

 of the Survey cannot be properly done under such conditions and some 

 classes of work cannot be done at all, the scientific and technical force 

 of the Survey have protested this action in the following letter: 



"To the Chairman, Joint Commission to assign space in public build- 

 ings: 



"The undersigned, geologists, engineers, chemists, and other scien- 

 tific and technical members of the staff of the United States Geological 

 Survey, earnestly protest against the recent action of the Public Build- 



