346 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 



SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH A LUXURY OR A NECESSITY? 



6. For many years the revenues of the federal government 

 were ample and easily obtained. Taxation was indirect and not 

 felt and many of the developmental functions of the government 

 were exercised with little question or objection. The Great 

 War involved enormous expenditures and increased the fixed 

 charges due to the public debt and other war obligations to 

 several times the former budget. The result is that expenditures 

 for education, scientific research and development work are 

 severely scrutinized, and the question is raised as to whether 

 we can afford to carry on such wOrk on a generous scale. It is, 

 of course, proper that every item in the national budget be closely 

 scrutinized, and that nothing be passed which cannot justify 

 itself. It is desirable, therefore, to inquire whether scientific 

 research as carried on by the federal government is a luxury or a 

 necessity; whether it is something to be enjoyed when taxes are 

 light and curtailed when taxes are heavy ; or whether it is creative 

 and wealth-producing, and therefore to be increased and developed 

 when expenses are abnormally large and a heavy debt must be 

 liquidated. The question is. in short, whether scientific and 

 industrial research and education are like good seed and fer- 

 tilizer to a farmer, which are essential to the best success; or 

 whether they are as luxuries to the rich which consume but do 

 not produce, and which should be curtailed when necessary 

 expenses increase. 



THE NATIONAL BUDGET 



7. In order to discuss the question concretely and with refer- 

 ence to actual conditions, let us examine the national budget as 

 it stands for the current fiscal year, with appropriations amount- 

 ing to a total of $5,686,005,706, as given in the regular supply 

 bills and three deficiency bills prior to May i, 1920. For con- 

 venience, we may divide it into six parts as follows : 



