SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND NEWS 



MATTERS OF SCIENTIFIC INTEREST IN CONGRESS^ 

 Following the rapid increase in influenza that took place in De- 

 cember and Januar}', Mr. France obtained unanimous consent, on 

 January 26, to call up S. J. Res. 76, providing for the investigation of 

 the causes and methods of prevention of influenza. Mr. King opposed 

 the resolution on the ground that it represented too much interference 

 by the Federal Government in State afl"airs. Mr. Smoot opposed any 

 appropriation larger than $250,000 (the original resolution called for 

 $5,000,000), stating that not more than that sum could possibh' be 

 spent in preventing the spread of the disease before the epidemic would 

 be over, or the regular appropriation bill carrying funds for this pur- 

 pose would be considered; but that, nevertheless, if $5,000,000 were 

 appropriated, "every dollar of that sum would be spent before the end 

 of the fiscal year." This apparent lack of confidence in the Public 

 Health Service was combated, and the resolution supported, by Messrs. 

 Townsend, Smith of vSouth Carolina, Norris, Chamberlain, and 

 others. The resolution was finally passed with an appropriation of 

 $500,000, and was referred to the House Committee on Interstate and 

 Foreign Commerce. 



On January- 7 Mr. Harris introduced S. J. Res. 141 : "To enable the 

 Public Health vService to cooperate with the States in the investigation 

 and control of malaria in the United States;" referred to the Committee 

 on Public Health and National Quarantine. 



The Joint Commission on Reclassification of vSalaries, created by Public 

 Law 314 of the Sixty-fifth Congress, requested in December an ex- 

 tension of time from January 12 to March 12 in order that it might 

 complete its report. H. J. Res. 263, introduced by Mr. Good on De- 

 cember 15 for this purpose, was passed by the House on December 19 

 and by the Senate on January 6, but not without opposition. Mr. 

 Mann stated in the House that "This is the most skilfully organized 

 raid on the Treasury- I have known. If I had my way about it I would 

 bury the commission and the report beyond resurrection." 



The rapid turnover in the Government's scientific bureaus, due to the 

 lowered purchasing capacity of the dollar, coupled with the difficulties 

 in the way of making corresponding changes in salaries, is reflected in a 

 bill introduced on Januarys 15 by Mr. Sterling, S. 3723: "To repeal 

 the act prohibiting increased pay under lump-sum appropriations to 

 employ-ees transferred within one year." The bill was referred to the 

 Committee on Civil Service and Retrenchment. 



' Preceding report: This Journal. 10: 54. 1920. 



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