30 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 192 8 



able space for plants, and besides permitting proper expansion of the 

 collection, allowed for the incorporation of over 200,000 specimens, 

 the accumulation of a number of year,s that it had been impossible 

 to place in their proper series because of lack of space. This gallery, 

 next to the provision for increase of salaries, has been the most im- 

 portant improvement that addition to appropriations has permitted 

 during the year. 



The increase in salaries, the first promotion of the kind that has 

 been possible since the classification act was put into effect on July 1, 

 1924, has resulted in appreciably higher morale on the part of the 

 personnel and has reacted most advantageously to the Museum. All 

 promotions have been well merited. 



To look ahead to a matter not properly included in this report but 

 one pertinent in the present connection, an additional one-rate in- 

 crease Avas provided by Congress for the fiscal year 1929, which, with 

 the Welch Act put in effect at the same time, has placed the staff of 

 the National Museum generally in greatly improved economic posi- 

 tion and has thus reacted in producing greater efficiency in the 

 performance of the work of the Museum. To carry out the full intent 

 of the reclassification act there is required a farther general increase 

 in pay to place those of the staff with proper efficiency rating at the 

 average rates of their respective grades. It must be noted also that 

 there are several groups, particularly among the skilled mechanics, 

 where the Personnel Classification Board, recognizing that the per- 

 sons in question were being paid at lower rates than in other Gov- 

 ernment departments, has given reallocations to higher positions. 

 Promotions should be given to these persons to give them proper com- 

 pensation. Further additions to the appropriations, so that the vari- 

 ous groups ol' salaries may attain the averages provided by law, are 

 earnestly urged, as such action is eminently and properly the reward 

 for conscientious performance of duty on the part of the stail and 

 will react wholly to the advantage of the Institution. 



The question of additional personnel is one of considerable impor- 

 tance, as there is growing necessity for further workers, both on the 

 scientific staff and in the clerical force. The National Museum, 

 through the many years of its growth, has developed along broad 

 lines and now maintains extensive collections. In several groups in 

 these collections there is now no specialist in charge, and in a number 

 of divisions assistants should be provided for the older men now in 

 charge who should be training others in proper methods to carry on 

 when they themselves are gone. Each year additional cataloguers, 

 stenographers, typists, and laborers must be employed temporarily to 

 assist in the work of the Museum. It is often difficult to secure em- 

 ployees properly equipped for this Avork on short notice and, further, 

 it is not always possible to give the considerable training tliat may be 



