Relation of the Federal Government to Research 



public extend the range of its scientific interests and 

 activities. If at this time a series of experiments can 

 be inaugurated with a view to utilizing such existing 

 agencies as the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of 

 Congress, the national councils, and the many compe- 

 tent institutions in various parts of the country, the 

 methods of extending the scope of scientific inquiry 

 through coordination of research within the Govern- 

 ment with research outside the Government will be 

 perfected. 



Studies of the Results of 

 Adopting and Enforcing Policies 



A critical study of the results of a public policy after 

 the policy has been in operation for a time is quite 

 certain to furnish valuable guidance to legislation and 

 administration. 



There are a few cases in which investigations have 

 been made by the Government of the results of poli- 

 cies adopted and enforced. The courts sometimes re- 

 view policies, but in general they pass on specific ques- 

 tions and supply only by implication the broad basis 

 needed for revision of policies or for supplementary 

 legislation. 



A recent example which shows the far-reaching 

 effects which may issue from critical evaluation of poli- 

 cies is the report of the National Commission on Law 

 Observance and Enforcement. 



After the National Recovery Act was declared to be 

 unconstitutional, an elaborate examination was made 

 of the administrative records which had been accumu- 

 lated during the period when the act was in force. 

 The results of this examination go far beyond the 

 pronouncements of the Court in laying the foundation 

 for future treatment of the problems with which the 

 act attempted to deal. 



Relation Between Research in 

 Universities and Research in the 

 Government 



The oldest universities in this coimtry are under the 

 control of private boards of trustees. They derive the 

 support for their research activities from endowments 

 and gifts from various sources. As noted earlier, the 

 foiuidations have been sources of aid to the universities 

 in the development of their programs of research. 

 The privately controlled universities have far more 

 freedom to pursue j^ure research which is not directed 

 to the immediate solution of practical problems than 

 do the research agencies of the Government. It is en- 

 tirely possible that the assignment of certain prob- 

 lems to universities and of others to other publicly 

 supported research agencies would result in a fortu- 

 nate division of labor and thus contribute to coordina- 

 tion of effort. Before any such division of labor can be 



17 



arranged, there must be more intimate associatiori of 

 the universities with one another. 



Regional Organization of Universities 



It has frequently been suggested that the universities 

 in different parts of the country organize regional 

 councils for the purpose of promoting cooperation with 

 one another. There are now in existence regional asso- 

 ciations which prepare lists of approved colleges and 

 secondai-y schools. For the purpose of developing co- 

 operative relations in research and in related lines of 

 academic activity, the existing associations are too 

 large. The area which can be most advantageously 

 covered in order to promote research is one which is 

 fairly homogeneous with respect to its industrial and 

 social characteristics. Intimate association of the inii- 

 versities in a comparatively small, homogeneous region 

 would tend to overcome some of the difficulties which 

 result from the jDresent division of research workers 

 into isolated groups. The research agencies of the 

 Government would find it far easier to establish rela- 

 tions with individuals and institutions if they could 

 secure advice from regional councils. 



International Cooperation in 

 Scientific Research 



There are many problems \vhich can be solved only 

 through the cooperation of scientists in different parts 

 of the world. The truth of this statement is immedi- 

 ately evident when such problems are considered as 

 those of terrestrial magnetism, meteorology, ocean- 

 ography, and astronomy. It is equally true, though 

 perhaps less generally recognized, that the develop- 

 ment of techniques of scientific investigation, such as 

 the techniques of biology, physics, mathematics, eco- 

 jiomics, and sociology, ha\'e been greatly advanced by 

 intercommunication among investigators of different 

 nations. Science is by its very nature international in 

 its methods and findings. 



Any measures which will promote international 

 cooperation in scientific research will be of distinct 

 advantage to the Government of this coimtry. It has 

 to be recognized that, while the Government of the 

 United States has taken a strong stand in favor of 

 international amity, it has been backward in promot- 

 ing cordial relations among the scientific associations 

 of the nations of the world. '\Alaen a great interna- 

 tional association of scientists comes to this country, 

 it is not accorded the official recognition and support 

 which it is accustomed to receive in other countries. 

 An important step in the direction of official support 

 for international scientific enterprises has been taken, 

 however, with the establishment in the Department of 

 State of a Division of Cultural Relations, for the spe- 

 cific purpose of improving intellectual cooperation be- 

 tween the United States and other countries. 



