Relation of the Federal Government to Research 



41 



them away, without thinking of the possibility of 

 analyzing them for nutritive properties until a similar 

 study for nutrition purposes was undertaken by the 

 Bureau of Animal Industry. In another instance, the 

 Bureau of Standards and the Bureau of Chemistry 

 and Soils each undertook research on a substantially 

 identical problem with reference to certain properties 

 of leather, but divided the field amicably when they 

 became aware of each other's intei-est in it. 



The Department of Agriculture, through its uniform 

 projects system, has done much to eliminate inadvert- 

 ent duplication among its own bureaus by keeping a 

 detailed and accurate record of all work in progress. 

 Wlaile other agencies may consult these records to find 

 out what research is being cai-ried on in the field of 

 agriculture, there is no equally convenient way of find- 

 ing out wliat other departments are doing in research 

 short of consulting individual bureaus and probably 

 also their subdivisions. 



A central record of all Federal research on the pat- 

 tern of that used by the Department of Agriculture 

 might well be considered as a means of enabling any 

 agency before it undertakes a new project to learn 

 what is being done by others in the same field. Such 

 a record might be reduced to card index form and 

 widely distributed among universities and other non- 

 governmental research agencies in addition to being 

 made available to all Government bureaus. 



Some form of service club for professional and 

 scientific workers on the order of the familiar faculty 

 clubs of our universities might also serve to bring 

 about, through closer contact, a better understanding 

 of each other's problems on the part of Governmental 

 personnel. 



There is no doubt that interbureau jealousies of one 

 sort or another also operate to inhibit coordination and 

 lead to some measure of duplication. This is probably 

 unavoidable, however, as long as it remains legally im- 

 possible or administratively inexpedient to combine 

 similar functions carried on by more than one agency. 



Administration of Research 



Adminutratlve techniques employed hy the scientif/; 

 agencies of the Government are coTulitioning factors 

 in the success of their research programs. — Govern- 

 ment research is esseaitially a group product. It is 

 carried out on a large scale, with many individuals 

 working toward the same ends in each field and on each 

 project. The organization of these workers so as to 

 achieve maximum returns with as little friction and 

 overlapping as possible is an administrative problem, 

 on the solution of which depends much of the effective- 

 ness of governmental efforts in scientific as well as in 

 other fields. 



The various executive departments having scientific 

 functions have approached the administrative prob- 

 lem each in its own way, and in moi'e circumscribed 

 fields, the bureaus and divisions of these departments 

 have worked out their own forms of oi-ganization 

 within the departmental pattern. 



Navy Department 



The closely knit, highly centralized form of organi- 

 zation is typified by the Navy DeiDartment. All of its 

 activities are jjointed towai'd the single end of national 

 defense, and the action and research functions are car- 

 ried on simultaneously in the same bureaus. The re- 

 search program is determined by the needs of the 

 service with respect to materials, equipment, or design, 

 as the case may be, and is coordinated through the reg- 

 ular line organization. A liaison committee on naval 

 research, including representatives from each bureau, 

 meets about once in three months or on call, to con- 

 sider research problems on which individual bureaus 

 wish assistance; and if suitable aid cannot be found 

 in the Department, the problem is referred to the Naval 

 Research Committee of the National Research Council. 



Administrators are naval officers selected for their 

 qualifications in specific fields, but with broad training 

 and general experience as to the requirements of the 

 Department as a whole. 



Department of Agriculture 



The Department of Agriculture presents a very dif- 

 ferent form of organization, unique among the execu- 

 tive departments in that scientific research rather than 

 administration or regulation is its original and pri- 

 mary function. A director of research for the Depart- 

 ment coordinates the program as a whole, and the 

 research functions of the bureaus are kept as distinct 

 as possible from their other duties. 



Within broad or restricted statutory limits fixed by 

 organic laws and appropriation acts relating to the 

 Department and to the individual bureaus, the research 

 program is administratively determined by the Secre^ 

 tary and the bureau chiefs. The Secretary, by virtue 

 of his Cabinet office, is in position to interpret public 

 policy as it may reflect upon agricultural research, 

 while the heads of the scientific bureaus are directly in 

 contact with and are presiuned to know the require- 

 ments of particular fields of activity. In practice, each 

 bureau makes up its own program, subject to approval 

 bj' the Secretary. 



The need for work on any particular research prob- 

 lem is considered by a bureau in the light of its ex- 

 pected practical value to agriculture or its fundamental 

 nature with regard to other research problems, its 

 comparative urgency, the progress already made to- 

 ward a solution, and the activities of research workers 



122999—39- 



