FEBRUARY 26, 1914] 
NATURE 
719 
The second and third medals were awarded to 
Mr. Glen H. Curtiss and M. Gustave Eiffel, the 
former “for advancing the art of aerodromics by 
his successful development of a hydro-aerodrome, 
whereby the safety of the aviator has been greatly 
enhanced,” and the latter “for advancing the 
science of aerodromics by his researches relating 
to the resistance of the air in connection with 
aviation.”’ 
The orations are interesting reading, especially 
that by Dr. Brashear, who was one of Prof. Lang- 
ley’s oldest and closest friends. 
The publication contains reproductions of the 
Langley Tablet and of the two handsome medals. 
The illustration of the medal awarded to M. Eiffel 
is here reproduced. 
At the close of the exercises, the secretary 
directed attention to the action of the Board of 
Regents, who have decided on the re-opening of 
the Langley Aerodynamical Laboratory. Suffi- 
| Act, 1904. 
out from the Eiffel Tower. Protests against the pro- 
posed tax had forwarded to the Post Office 
authorities by the National Association of Goldsmiths, 
the British Horological Institute, and Mr. F. Hope- 
Jones, chairman of the Wireless Society of London. 
In of the made to 
it upon the subject, an inquiry was instituted by 
the British Guild in relation to the 
wisdom of the policy of levying such a charge at the 
Present time, the possibility of collecting the same 
economically in the event of the policy being persisted 
in, as well as in relation to the powers conferred on 
the Postmaster-General under the Wireless Telegraphy 
The result of this inquiry was such as to 
persuade the guild that the imposition of a tax would 
be impolitic, and at the same time would not be likely 
to produce a revenue commensurate with the expense 
involved in attempting to collect the same, whilst 
such a tax could not fail to give rise to intense irrita- 
been 
consequence representations 
Scie ence 
Fic. 1.—Langley medal presented to M. Gnstave Eiffel. 
cient provision is available to start and continue 
the work in a modest way, and it is hoped that in- 
vestigations under the name of Langley will be 
pursued to develop and standardise aeronautical 
science, 
Such an institution well organised and equipped 
would be a noble monument to the man, and one 
which he, no doubt, would have most desired. 
NOTES. 
THE attention of the British Science Guild 
was directed towards the end of last year 
to the fact that the Post Office authorities 
were contemplating a charge of two guineas, 
in respect of licences in connection with appa- 
ratus proposed to be installed by owners of obser- 
vatories, watch and clock makers, &c., for the purpose 
of receiving the international wireless time signals sent 
NO. 2313, VOL. 92] 
tion. As was pointed out in an article in Nature of 
November 13, 1913 (p. 320), it appeared to be ex- 
tremely doubtful whether the Postmaster-General 
possessed statutory authority to impose such a tax, 
since by the terms of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 
1904, it is expressly provided that “nothing in this 
Act shall prevent any person from making or using 
electrical apparatus for any purpose other than the 
transmission of messages.” The views of the British 
Science Guild were recently forwarded to the Secretary 
| of the Post Office, who was desired to place the docu- 
ment containing these views before the Postmaster- 
General for his consideration, and at the same time 
the Postmaster-General was requested to receive a 
deputation from the guild in relation to this matter. 
We learn that the representations of the British 
Science Guild and other bodies have been considered 
by the Postmaster-General, who now 
has intimated 
