300 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 



that the Navy can more economically execute the work, so there is no reason either 

 on the score of efficiency or economy for making the change. It is suggested that 

 a new method might be adopted, which would result in a considerable saving of 

 expenditure, but the commission does not regard itself competent to decide upon 

 the methods to be adopted in a survey so highly scientific in its character and 

 objects, much less does it feel competent to recommend a change of method which 

 has received the sanction of the scientists of our country, and has the sanction of 

 more than two generations of experience and criticism " ^^' 



Regarding the Weather Service, the report remarked: 



" A proposition made to establish a weather service as a civilian organization 

 failed in the commission, three of the commission favoring such transfer, and 

 three opposing it. Those favoring the transfer submit separately their views on 

 the subject, which are appended hereto " ^** 



The conclusion regarding the Hydrographic Office was as 

 follows : 



" The commission unanimously recommend that this office be maintained by 

 appropriations from jear to year in its present state of efficiency." ^" 



Concerning the suggestions of the Academy that a commission 

 be established to direct the work, of the scientific bureaus, or 

 that a department of science be created, the report remarks: 



" . . . . The commission considered with care the many suggestions respecting 

 a change of existing law looking to the selection of a supervisory commission, 

 which should from time to time, and at least once in each year, consider what work 

 should properly be done by the several bureaus under examination, and supervise 

 the methods of executing the work committed to them severally. They regard 

 this as impracticable as long as these bureaus are distributed as now among several 

 Departments of the Government. They believe it wiser to leave this general direc- 

 tion and control to each head of Department for the bureau under his supervision. 

 It would be impracticable to give such Commission power to overrule the head 

 of a Department, and if this were not done its powers would only be advisory. 



" Nor is the Commission prepared to recommend the establishment of a scientific 

 department of the Government to take charge of all these bureaus. There is no 

 such duplication of work or necessary connection of these bureaus with each other 

 as make such establishment essential to their efficiency, as in cases where one 

 bureau finds it necessary to utilize the work of another, a request for information 

 and data is always complied with." "" 



'"Op. cit., p. 13. 

 "* Op. (it., p. 26. 

 '" Op. cit., p. 28. 

 '" op. cit., pp. 53, 54- 



