■ ujt puljli^ rAcTney for such purposes, to the end that such funds shall be 

 'ap^li^*fA the most economical, efficient and worthy manner to results 

 of permanent value. 



It is not my place to give instructions to the Commission. The 

 resolution allows the greatest latitude and freedom to the Commission. 

 Since you desire it, however, I will express my understanding of the 

 nature and scope of the inquiry; but these statements are to be 

 regarded only as informal suggestions. 



The Commission is in no sense an "investigating committee," as 

 this term is commonly understood. It is not concerned with the 

 scientific work of individuals. It is not concerned with the internal 

 questions of research institutions, except as such questions may affect 

 public policies and the reputation of the work. 



The occasion for the creating of the Commission lies in the fact that 

 in the very rapid evolution of experimentation and research in agricul- 

 ture in the United States, there has not yet arisen a clear understanding 

 of mutual limits and relationship or a settled policy in relation to 

 many large public questions. We need to work out principles of 

 action. There undoubtedly needs to be a correlating and harmoniz- 

 ing of subjects and methods; an understanding of the proper scope, 

 function, and limitations of National and State agencies; a conception 

 of the relation of institutions in the States to Federal appropriations 

 and control; of the most effective distribution of investigation efforts 

 among the different State and National institutions; consideration of 

 the influence exerted on research in agriculture by the current methods 

 of appropriations by egislatures; of the relation of the individual 

 worker to institutional organization; discussion of what constitutes 

 research that shall produce useful and worthy results; the relation of 

 this research to the teaching and publicity functions of the institutions ; 

 consideration of the relation of research in agriculture to the general 

 body of science and the coordination of these; and, in general, such a 

 directing of experiment and research in the interest of agriculture as 

 shall compact and economize the work, render it more fertile and 

 effective, and integrate it with wise policies in the interest of the public 

 welfare. It lies with the Commission to cover much or little of this 

 field, but it will be essential to consider the best methods of organizing 

 research work, the mutual relations of experiment stations and Federal 

 agencies, and the general character of research that may issue from 

 institutions founded on public money. The two members representing 

 the Association are familiar with the questions that need most to be 

 discussed. 



If this is the scope of the field that the Commission is to enter, then 

 its inquiries may well extend beyond what is narrowly known as 

 agricultural science, and consider any other research supported by 

 public money that promotes agricultural knowledge and efficiency. 



While the sphere of the Commission is to consider experimentation 

 and research, it can not neglect direct educational questions in so far 

 as they touch the interrelation of experiment and teaching in the 

 institutions, and particularly as they relate to the training of men to 

 undertake research. 



