19 



an inoroaso of funds for the National Dopartmcnt jrroatly out of proportion to 

 tiie incivast' of the resources of tlio iiulivldual stations, thereby inevitahly 

 hrinjiinj? the field of research, both ;;eneral and local, more and more within 

 the scDpe and direction of the National Department, with the couseipient 

 minimizing of station influence, or whether the maintenance of the resoiu'ces of 

 the stations in the several States more on a parify with the resomv-es of the 

 National l)ei>artment, thus enabling,' theso Staft' institutions to sust.-iin them- 

 selves as tli(> leadini,' instruments of research within their resj)ective fields. 



Your committee made the broad claim, which we ix'lieve to be aliundantly 

 justified by facts, that the stations have been and still are the most imjiortant 

 existinj; factor in aiiricultural research, and strong; i^rouud was taken in favor 

 of the proposition that these institutions are the lo.icical, economical, and most 

 efficient agency for the stud.v of the agricultural problems which are impor- 

 tant in their respectivi- States. The iniblished report of the hearing is, in the 

 main, correct, although the spirit and language of the informal (inestions and 

 answers ai-e in some instances inaccurately reported. In reading that report 

 it has unddubtedly been made clear to you that there was on the part of the 

 House conmiittee an ex]»ectation that the statements of the connnittee would 

 be of a somewhat different character from those which were ]iresented, and the 

 determination of your connnittee to hold itself well within its original pur- 

 pose rendered the situation somewhat delicate and dilticult. Ycmr connnittee 

 firndy believes that the object sought by the association in directing the 

 request for this hearing was full.v accomplished, and the results were, broadly 

 considered, good and satisfactory. It is reconnnended that the association take 

 appropriate action to secun>. if jiracticable, the jiresentation of the claims of 

 the stations to the prop(>r consideration and support of Congress at succeed- 

 ing sessions of that body. 



Suiise(piently satisfactory conferences were held with the Secretary, the 

 Assistant Secretary, and other officials of the Department of Agriculture on the 

 general subject of cooperation of the Department with the stations in research 

 work. For satisfactory reasons your committee was led to decide that it would 

 be improper to wish to continue these conferences to a definite conclusion at 

 the time, but it is confidently believed that a mutual and cordial understanding 

 of the views and desires of the stations and of the Department of Agriculture 

 in cooperative work has been reached. 



In the matter of the standing conunittees of the association i-eferred to your 

 committee, it is reconunended that this convention order — 



(1) That the standing committees of the association be as follows: 



(a) On bibliography. 



(b) On methods of teaching in the land-grant colleges. 



(c) On graduate study. 



(d) On extension work. 



(e) On experiment station organization and policy. 



(2) That each committee shall consist of five members. 



(.3) That the committees shall be appointed and announced by the president 

 of the association at the concluding session of each annual convention. 



(4) That the members of the committees, when practical)le and unless the 

 president, for good cause, shall otherwise determine, shall be selected from 

 those in attendance upon the convention at which the c-onnnittees are api)ointed. 



(5) That vacancies arising between conventions shall Ije filled by the com- 

 mittee in which the vacancy has occurred. 



Your committee reports with profound sorrow and regret the death during 

 the year of President Henry II. Goodell, of the Massachusetts Agricultural 

 College, one of the founders and. until his death, a member of this association. 

 The peculiar relations of I'resident Goodell to the association have led your 

 committee to assign an hour in the programme for this convention to a memo- 

 rial of his life and services, and it has been fortunate in securing the consent of 

 President ^V. E. Stone, of Indiana, a pupil and friend of President Goodell, to 

 make the leading remarks. The association will doubtless be moved to take 

 further action to signify respect for the memory of our late distiuguishd mem- 

 ber. 



The finances of the association have been economically administered and are 

 in satisfactory condition. All obligations have been promptly met, and the 

 report of the treasurer will show a considerable balance in the treasury. 



Respectfully submitted for the committee. 



H. C. White, Chainnan. 



