SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 



MATTERS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN CONGRESS^ 



The Finance Committee of the Senate, which has had before it the 

 bill for a tariff on scientific supplies (H. R. 7785), decided on October 

 3 to postpone all revenue and tariff matters until after the treaty of 

 peace had been acted upon. 



During the hearings on the bill the Tariff Commission prepared a 

 report entitled Information concerning scientific instruments, which 

 has been recently published. The report brings together a large num- 

 ber of opinions and arguments concerning the tariff on scientific sup- 

 plies, received from various sections of the Bureau of Standards, from 

 manufacturers of instruments of all kinds, and from universities and 

 organizations. 



Two distinct questions are involved: (i) Should Congress repeal 

 the privilege, now granted to institutions of learning, of importing 

 supplies free of duty? (2) Should the present rates be increased and 

 imported articles now on the free list be taxed? 



The opinions quoted are not analyzed in the report, but the following 

 brief outline will indicate that those interested are still far from being 

 in agreement. (Definite recommendations only are counted.) 



(i) Of eleven university professors quoted, one favors and ten 

 oppose repeal of the duty-free clause. Of twelve opinions from the 

 Bureau of Standards, five favor and seven oppose repeal. Of seven 

 manufacturers quoted on this subject six favor and one opposes repeal. 

 The Council of the American Chemical Society is quoted in favor of 

 repeal of the duty-free clause, "for a reasonable period of years, at 

 least." 



(2) Opinions on the subject of the imposition and increase of tariff 

 rates on scientific supplies are quoted as follows: Ten manufacturers, 

 all in favor of higher tariff; eleven sections of the Bureau of Standards, 

 seven in favor and four against. The Commission believes that "the 

 extremely diverse nature of the products falling under such a general 

 designation as 'scientific instruments' renders general statements 

 concerning the entire group of little value for the purpose of deciding 

 on any rates of duty related to the competitive conditions which affect 

 individual instruments." 



The report also discusses in a general way the status of the domestic 

 industry, imports and exports, tariff history, competitive conditions, 

 and war developments. 



A conference of campaign committees, delegates from affiliated 

 engineering, architects', and constructors' societies, and other interested 

 parties, is planned for some time in November, to give active support 

 to the Jones-Reavis bill for a National Department of Public Works. 



^ Preceding report : This Journal. 9:535. 1919- 



=i62 



