42 



of the experiment station appropriations for general colkgo purposes, would devote 

 the money specifically to research and what properly pertains thereto, and that they 

 would supplement it and increase its elfectiveness by placing at the disposal of the 

 stations the facilities for experimental inquuy which they already possessed. And 

 this was urged as one of the strong arguments in favor of the measure, both in pre. 

 eenting it to tlie attention of Congress and in urging the passage of the bill. 



The expenditure of both college and station funds by the college authorities in- 

 volves some delicate questions of adjustment. For instance, it frequently happens 

 that the same person renders service to and is paid by botli institutions, as when an 

 officer of the college shares in the work of the station. Such an arrangement may be 

 advantageous to both college and station and entirely proper, provided the interests 

 of the station call for the work, the person has the tijue and the qualifications needed, 

 the college pays a due equivalent of salary for the service it receives, and the station 

 receives a due equivalent of service for the salary it pays. In like manner the funds 

 of both institutions are sometimes expended for buildings and appliances which both 

 use. This, too, may be permissible provided it is not done for the college at the ex- 

 pense of the station. The principle to be borne in mind is that in granting aid from 

 the National Government, it was the expectation of Congress that the resources of 

 the colleges would be used in furtherance of the work of the stations, but not that 

 the grants to the stations should be diverted to the aid of the colleges. 



The men who are responsible for the management of the colleges and deeply inter- 

 ested in their welfare, often feel keenly their lack of means, and the temptation to 

 use the resources of the stations to help the colleges in return for the help given to 

 the stations is often strong. But in the acceptance of the station grant, their integ- 

 rity is pledged to its proper use. To employ any part of it, directly or indirectly, for 

 the support of the college or for any other purposes than those defined by the act of 

 Congress, namely, for conducting experimerts, publishing and otherwise disseminat- 

 ing information obtained, and for buildings needed and used by the station, would be 

 a breach of trust, a violation of both the letter and the spirit of the law. Of course 

 the connection of the stations with the colleges inures to the benefit of the latter 

 in numerous and important ways. The atmosphere of research, so useful to both 

 teacher and student, is developed; information is obtained which the colleges want 

 to imparl.; the colleges are brought into closer contact with the world of science on 

 the one hand and with the people on the other. Thus their intellectual tone is ele- 

 vated, their influence enlarged, and their usefulness greatly increased. Such benefit 

 is in every way legitimate and desirable. But in some cases there has seemed to be 

 a tendency to utilize the means of the station for the support of the college, and at 

 the station's cost. The effect of this must be injurious, not only to the individual 

 stations concerned, but to the enterprise as a whole. It is on these accounts and 

 because the obligations imposed by the law have seemed to me to be not always un- 

 derstood, that I have made these statements so implicit. I inclose copy of a letter 

 of similar import from Assistant Secretary Willits. 



Respectfully, 



W. O. Atwater, 



Director. 



The following refers to the letter above quoted : 



United States Department of Agriculture, 



Office of the Assistant Secretary, 



JVashington, D. C, July 19, 1690. 



Dear Sir: In response to your inquiry I may say that your communication of this 

 date to thedirector of the Exi)eriment Station does not, in my judg- 

 ment, overstate the obligation of the agricultural colleges to the stations. 



As a member of the committee which represented the agricultural colleges in urg- 



