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National Resources Committee 



no less detail than those preceding the change in 

 methodology. 



In some few instances, however, the language of the 

 appropriation acts has shown significant alteration in 

 the past 5 years. The Bureau of Standards appro- 

 priation, for example, provided in 1908 for personnel, 

 equipment, and maintenance, with no separate items 

 for investigation. By 1918 a dozen research appro- 

 priations were itemized in the act, and the number had 

 increased to 25 by 1928. Five years later it was still 25, 

 but the appropriation for the fiscal year ending June 



30, 1938, was divided among salaries and expenses, 

 operation and administration, and four general items 

 for research, investigation, and testing. The Geolog- 

 ical Survey appropriations, on the other hand, have 

 not changed in form since the 1920's. 



If any trend is visible at all, it is in the direction 

 of autliorization of research functions in broader and 

 more general terms, but with increasingly detailed 

 statements as to individual items of expenditure under 

 the broad authorization. 



