ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 375 



it is needless to say results would have been obtained sooner and 

 the war appreciably shortened. In view of this experience, and 

 the probability that science and technology wull be no less im- 

 portant in the future than in the past, the question naturally 

 arises whether the government is making adequate preparation 

 for scientific research as a part of its program of military pre- 

 paredness? In time of war the civil branches of the government 

 will be called upon immediately, and they will be able to render 

 invaluable service if they are adequately equipped and manned. 

 In the meantime, pending the arrival of the war, which we hope 

 will never come, they wall be able to render useful service in civil 

 problems and so be more than self-supporting. This kind of 

 preparation for war, which adds nothing to the military budget 

 if the civil departments are adequately supported, should appeal 

 to all as practicable and desirable. 



SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT 



33. The federal government, having emerged from participa- 

 tion in the World War, finds itself with a large debt and heavy 

 annual charges caused by the war. These together with the 

 current cost of the army and navy amount for the present fiscal 

 year to 92.8 per cent of the total budget. The cost of public 

 works and the necessary administrative cost of the federal 

 government amounts to 6.2 per cent of the total. There remains 

 one per cent for a large number of governmental activities 

 classed as research, educational and developmental. The ques- 

 tion arises whether in the interest of economy and efficiency 

 the one per cent shall be decreased ; or because this work is con- 

 structive and of great economic value it shall be increased, 

 possibly doubled. The arguments in favor of increasing it may 

 be summarized as follows : 



(i) The government should be constructive and helpful to 

 the people and to business wherever possible. It should carry 

 on scientific research, promote education, develop the industries, 

 assist in improving commercial and industrial methods, and 

 furnish technical information to manufacturers and others, as 



