THE STORY OF AN ENTOMOLOGIST 



a dry goods box. When Mr. Wadsworth said, "We will now 

 hear from Dr. Howard about this appropriation for the Cotton 

 Boll Weevil," I took the cover from the box, lifted out the model 

 and put it on the table in front of me. Captain Lamb of Virginia 

 (then a member and afterwards chairman of the Committee) 

 turned with amazement to Congressman Burleson of Texas 

 (later Postmaster General), and said, "My God, Burleson, is it 

 as big as that.?" 



Mr. Wadsworth, by the way, was a Congressman of the very 

 highest type. He afterwards had trouble with President Roose- 

 velt, and there was a newspaper spat between them that was 

 very warm. 



During the early days of the Cotton Boll Weevil investigation 

 I had rather disagreeable experiences with several of the Southern 

 members of Congress who wanted the headquarters for the in- 

 vestigation located in their districts. In fact, as the service was 

 extended and other large projects were taken up, I had other 

 disagreeable experiences of this kind, not only in the location 

 of stations, but in moving the stations from one point to another 

 when it became necessary. 



I should explain that it became the policy of the Bureau rather 

 early to carry the laboratory to the problem rather than the 

 problem to the laboratory. Having arrived at a satisfactory agree- 

 ment with the state authorities, a proper point in the field was 

 picked by the expert in charge of the investigation, a house or a 

 small farm or both would be rented at some strategic point, 

 assistants would be sent there, and supplies would be bought. 

 And then, when it seemed desirable to change the location, this 

 place was given up and another one found. But the inhabitants 

 of a country community do not wish to lose these stations, and 

 they naturally appeal to their members of Congress. Many a 

 time I have had a Congressman come and argue the question 



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