30 ANNUAL REPORI: SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1925 



The financial assistance accorded to members of the scientific staff 

 has been greatly appreciated but attention is drawn to the necessity 

 of keeping this matter in mind so that faithful service may be 

 further rewarded. Provision is made in the reclassification act for 

 increase in salary to the average amount in the various grades, pro- 

 vided a suitable record of efficiency is maintained. Two surveys of 

 efficiency of the entire staff have been made in accordance with regu- 

 hitions laid down by the Personnel Classification Board, and in fur- 

 ther accordance with the regulations of that board the ratings 

 assigned have been transmitted to the staff. It is highly gratifying 

 to record that with very few exceptions these ratings have been 

 excellent and have been of such a degree that they warrant promo- 

 tion. Under existing appropriations, funds for the proper advance- 

 ment indicated are not available. The matter is earnestly recom- 

 mended for serious consideration to the end that money may be pro- 

 vided to make the necessary increase. Such action has been taken in 

 other departments and it is sincerely desired to avoid falling behind 

 in this respect as was the case under former salary regulations. 



Though not universally recognized as an element in educational 

 activities, the National Museum fidfills a threefold function in that 

 field. Through the care and preservation of its vast and inestimably 

 valuable collections and their careful arrangement and classification, 

 it affords a visual record of progress and development of our own 

 and foreign peoples, of important advances in the history of our 

 country, and of achievements in science, industry, and art. As a 

 museum of research it affords opportunity to the trained specialist 

 and to the serious student to pursue studies of all kinds with facili- 

 ties not elsewhere obtainable. It is seen as a museum of education by 

 the visiting public, who come to examine the many treasures in the 

 exhibition halls, while through its publications, correspondence, and 

 distribution of duplicate specimens it reaches thousands who are not 

 so fortunate as to be able to visit its halls. It may be safely said 

 that no textbook, work of reference, or encyclopedia of facts has been 

 issued in this country in recent years that has not based some of its 

 statements on information originating in the National Museum. 



As a modern feature for the dissemination of knowledge may be 

 mentioned the radio program of the Smithsonian Institution organ- 

 ized last year which has continued under the direction of Mr. Austin 

 H. Clark of the Museum staff in cooperation with the broadcasting 

 station WRC, Radio Corporation of America. In all, 28 talks, of 

 15 minutes each, were given during the winter, 10 being by members 

 of the staff of the Institution, including 7 from the Museum. Four 

 of these talks were broadcast also by stations WJY and WJZ in 

 New York City, reaching thus a broad audience. The talks, which 

 began October 2, 1924, and were concluded on May 14, 1925, were 



