SECTION 1. SUMMARY OF MEMORANDA ON THE RESEARCH OF 



THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN THE NATURAL 



SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY 



By Baldwin M. Woods and Charles M. Wiltse ' 



Introduction 



In conducting the present survey of governmental 

 research in the natural sciences and technology it was 

 thought preferable to employ what may be termed an 

 "inside approacli." No one is better aware of the prob- 

 lems encountered in carrying on research under Gov- 

 ernment auspices than those who are responsible for 

 the task, and it was, therefore, to the scientific bureaus 

 themselves that the Committee turned for information. 



A suggested list of questions was prepared and sub- 

 mitted to officials of more than 50 research agencies, 

 including the various scientific bureaus of the Depart- 

 ments of Agriculture, War, Navy, Interior, and Com- 

 merce, the Public Health Service, and many independ- 

 ent agencies. Problems for which solutions were 

 sought were discussed by members of the Committee's 

 staff with bureau chiefs and directors of research, as 

 well as with leading scientists outside the Government 

 service. Following these discussions memoranda de- 

 scribing typical research projects in the natural science 

 field and the special problems encountered in conduct- 

 ing them were prepared for the Committee bj' the 

 governmental agencies consulted. The list of these 

 agencies is, of course, far from complete, but it is 

 believed to be representative. 



The discussion in the following pages is based on tlie 

 materials supplied by Government scientists and ad- 

 ministrators of research. Unless otherwise ciedited, 

 quotations throughout tliis section have beeii taken 

 from the memoranda referred to above. 



Summary 



I. There are certain fields of natural science and 

 technology in which the Federal Government is oMi- 

 gated to carrxj on research. — These are fields in which 

 there is a constitutional responsibility, such as national 

 defense and the determination of standards; fields in 

 which the Government performs essential regulatory 

 functions, such as control of traffic in foods and drugs 

 and supervision of power production; fields in which 

 extensive administrative or construction functions have 

 become a Fedei-al responsibility, as is the case with 



^Mr. Charles H. Pierce and Mr. Walter B. Langbein, both of the 

 U. S. Geoolgical Survey, rendered valuable assistance in the collection 

 and analysis of materials. 



122999—39 3 



flood control and highway transportation; and fields in 

 which the major problems are of a definitely national 

 or interstate character like those of agriculture, weather 

 forecasting, and fisheries. 



II. There are certain fields of natural sclen/7e and 

 technology in which the Federal Government is hetter 

 equipped to carry on research than is any other 

 agency. — In general the fields falling under this cate- 

 gory are those in which research is unusually costly in 

 proportion to its monetary return but is of high prac- 

 tical or social value. Current activities of this type 

 are aeronautical research, investigations and surveys in 

 geology, geodesy, and mineral technology, public liealth 

 research, and soil-conservation studies. 



III. The Federal Government is hetter able than any 

 other agency to coordinate extensive research pro- 

 grams. — The authority, prestige, and resources of the 

 Federal Government may be used to organize and di- 

 rect research in any given field on a national scale. 

 Agricultural research, for example, is coordinated 

 through the State experiment stations, the method 

 being that of cooperative agreement. The War and 

 Navy Departments keep continuously informed as to 

 developments in industry and avoid duplication by 

 making use of private facilities wherever possible. A 

 third method is exemplified by the National Advisory 

 Committee for Aeronautics, whose laboratory is a cen- 

 tral research plant serving industry and Government 

 alike. 



IV. // the scientific work of the Federal Govern- 

 ment is to compare favorahly with that of other agen- 

 cies, it must he made possible to secure and retain a 

 uniformly high quality of personnel. — The civil service 

 procedure at present in effect places the Government at 

 a disadvantage in recruiting and holding scientific per- 

 sonnel in competition with other scientific agencies. 

 Security of tenure does not altogether compensate for 

 lower salaries and slow and uncertain promotions, 

 while it operates to keep the inefficient as well as the 

 competent in permanent positions. 



V. Where specialized fields of research are pursued, 

 it must he made possible to secure special training for 

 the more promising employees. — While the War and 

 Navy Departments may detail scientific personnel to 

 universities or to special service schools for advanced 



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