376 ROSA: SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 



well as develop agriculture and the public domain. Such service 

 by the government tends to establish good relations with busi- 

 ness, to elevate business methods, to increase efficiency and to 

 educate the public. The many services thus rendered cost very 

 little in the aggregate as compared with the total expense of the 

 government, but they are of great practical value and are appre- 

 ciated by the people. One per cent of the total expenses of the 

 government spent in this constructive way seems a very small pro- 

 portion in view of the wide range and the economic value oj such 

 work. 



(2) But a part of this one per cent is incurred in behalf of the 

 government itself, to enable the government to purchase its 

 supplies intelligently and to do business in a businesslike way. 

 Without this research and testing work the government would 

 waste more in buying than it would save by eliminating the 

 research and testing. Making purchases without full technical 

 information is embarrassing to public officials and unsatisfactory 

 to business; whereas by always using intelligently drawn speci- 

 fications and making adequate tests, the government can save 

 money, elevate its own service and improve business methods. 

 Much but not enough of this kind of work is now done. It is 

 the duty of the government to set a good example before the 

 business world of efficient and intelligent methods and fair 

 dealing; neither accepting goods below the specified quality nor 

 demanding more than is specified. The government would spend 

 less for its purchases if it spent more in standardizing the products 

 purchased and in testing deliveries systematically. 



(3) But apart from the service the government can render its 

 citizens, and the benefit to the state resulting from scientific, 

 educational, and developmental work, and apart from the 

 benefit to the government of having the results of such work in 

 constructing buildings and other public works, and carrying on 

 its business, this kind of work develops wealth, and the increased 

 wealth can be taxed, and hence there is a third reason for increas- 

 ing such work. The war has made it necessary to raise many 

 times the revenue formerly required, and the taxation is now an 

 important issue. Economizing in the use of raw materials, using 



