SEA GRANT COLLEGES 269 



bilities of directing their vast educational, scientific and technological compe- 

 tence to tlie solution of regional and national problems. Many of these institu- 

 tions have strong programs in the aquatic sciences, and several are pursuing 

 active research and student training programs on the Great Lakes and the 

 oceans. 



I wish you success in the enactment of this bill and greatly appreciate the 

 opportunity to express my views. 

 Sincerely, 



David O. Chandler, 

 Director, Great Lakes Research Division. 



West Covina. Calif., 



May 11, 1966. 

 Hon. Claiborne Pell, 

 Senator from Rhode Island, 



325 Old Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. 

 Re Bill S. 2439. 



Dear Sir: I was delighted to answer Senator Murphy's inquiry of April 22, 

 asking for an evaluation of your bill, S. 2439, and to discuss with him its merits. 

 The United States urgently needs a legislative foundation to focus attention on 

 and give support to the three programs you identified when you introduced the 

 referenced bill. These are : 



Program 1 : Make funds "available to colleges and universities for the purpose 

 of expanding practical education in the marine sciences." (I interpret "marine 

 sciences" to include the "field of oceanics.") 



Program 2 : Make funds available for the "purpose of supporting research that 

 will lead to a direct and practical nature in the marine sciences." 



Program 3: Make funds available for the purpose of establishing a "system of 

 extension services to bring the latest developments in the marine sciences to the 

 attention of workers in the field, scientists, and the interested public." 



Several times you asked witnesses if the Smithsonian Institution would be an 

 appropriate administrator for the effort described in bill S. 2439. 



Because of the importance of all three oceanic programs of this legislation, 

 and because of the statements made during the hearings of May 5, 6, and 7, 1966, 

 I believe that the Smithsonian is by far the best selection as administrators and 

 that an amendment to the bill is appropriate. 



The Smithsonian, under the first Secretary, was the parent of the U.S. Weather 

 Bureau. Under the second Secretary it was the parent of the Fish Commission. 

 It was also the parent of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. 

 The Smithsonian is "an establishment for the increase and diifusion of knowl- 

 edge among men." It has the experience from its Editorial and Publications 

 Division to disseminate a steady flow of knowledge resulting from research. 



Another reason for selecting the Smithsonian is their Board of Regents com- 

 posed of the Vice President of the United States, the Chief .Justice, three Senators, 

 three Representatives, and six private citizens. It seems necessary that a major 

 oceanic grant such as a national sea gx*ant college should be approved by the 

 highly qualified "proposal approval board." The Smithsonian Institution's Board 

 of Regents is exactly such a body. 



I discussed briefly with Dr. I. E. Wallen, Smithsonian's representative to the 

 Interagency Committee of Oceanography, the feasibility of creating an Oceanics 

 Bureau within the Smithsonian to : administer bill S. 2439 ; prepare and admin- 

 istration plan for the effort ; and establish an oceanic data bank to collect and 

 disseminate oceanic-type data generated by the recipients of the grants. He 

 stated, as did Dr. Galler to you on May 3. that it is necessary for the Smith- 

 sonian Board of Reegnts to approve such an undertaking, but that it was certainly 

 within the scope and philosophy to perform this task. Dr. S. Dillon Ripley's 

 .statement delivered by Dr. Galler specifies the keen interest the Smithsonian has 

 in Oceanian items and the importance it places on your bill. 



Finally, I believe you should require that an administrative plan should be 

 prepared and approved prior to any institute or agency starting administration 

 of the effort identified in your bill. 

 Very truly yours, 



William A. Lobran. 



