EDITORIALS. 
THE PROPOSITION to introduce into the Department of Agriculture 
at Washington a scientific chief seems to have set people to thinking 
about the generally unscientific organization of the 
A National scientific work supported by the United States govern- 
Scientific ment. In a communication to Scéence* Mr. Charles 
Department W. Dabney, Jr., discusses the need of a national depart- 
ment of science. Established as need appeared in con- 
nection with various departments, the scientific agencies of the gen- 
eral government have developed until they carry on work of great 
variety and extent, for which it appropriates annually nearly $8,000,000 
and employs over 5000 men. A great amount of duplication now neces-, 
_ sarily ensues from the fact that by natural extensions of the work in 
charge of one bureau it often overlaps that of another. Coordination 
seems to be impossible because the bureaus and divisions are parts of 
different departments, and therefore under the control of different offi- 
cers. For example, there are three agencies carrying on land surveys, 
four prosecuting hydrographic work, and five independent chemical 
laboratories. 
THIS INDEPENDENCE means not only lack of coordination, but, 
generally, lack of cooperation. No one who is not familiar with the 
state of affairs in Washington understands how much jealousy and how 
little cooperation there is officially among these various bureaus and 
divisions. Apparently the more nearly related their work is, the less 
inclination there is to fraternize. This condition is not peculiar to. 
Washington. It is only an exaggeration of the official jealousy that 
one too often finds between university departments that have “jest — 
growed” instead of being adequately organized. 
FORTUNATELY we have comparatively little of the personal bicker- 
ing and even animosity which seems to be the rule in German scien- 
tific life, where no one is really satisfied until he has a Fed. — 
Whether personal or official, all degrees of this feeling are phases of - 
"N.S. 52273. 15 Ja 1897, 
