ROSA; SCIENTIFIC WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT 377 



cheaper materials, reducing waste, developing the public domain, 

 increasing manufacturing efficiency, reducing distribution costs, 

 all tend to create wealth and to make it easier for the government 

 to raise the needed revenue. Therefore, if there were no other 

 reason, this consideration should appeal to legislators and busi- 

 ness men alike ; namely, that research and development work by the 

 government develop wealth, and the burden of taxation is thereby 

 lightened. 



(4) But there is another powerful economic reason for increas- 

 ing the productive developmental work of the government. 

 The rising cost of living not only leads to hardship and distress, 

 but to industrial unrest, strikes, disorders and great economic 

 losses to the nation. In order to check rising prices, and if possi- 

 ble bring down prices, it will be necessary to increase production. 

 To do this it is necessary to reduce waste and increase efficiency. 

 This requires greater intelligence and fuller knowledge, and calls 

 for education, the results of scientific investigation and of intelli- 

 gent and extensive industrial research. The government could 

 not and should not do it all. But neither should it refuse to do 

 its part, and its part often is to take the lead in a constructive 

 and statesmanlike way. It is stupid and blind to think that 

 because taxes are heavy we cannot afford to do things intelli- 

 gently. If a farmer's barn burns down, he would not sell half 

 his supply of seed and fertilizer to buy lumber, and then plant 

 only half a crop. He would, if necessary, borrow money to buy 

 more seed and plant a larger crop than usual, in order to increase 

 his income and pay for the new barn more easily. Intelligent 

 research by the government, in cooperation with the industries, is 

 like seed and fertilizer to a farmer. It stimulates production and 

 increases wealth, and pays for itself many-fold. It is as produc- 

 tive and profitable in peace as in war. 



(5) Finally, if the reasons already adduced are not sufficient, 

 there remains the military reason. The development of our 

 intellectual, moral, and material resources is the best prepara- 

 tion for war. Food and manufacturing facilities, and adequate 

 supplies of raw materials and transportation systems and scien- 

 tific attainments and the equipment and trained personnel 



