August 18, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



229 



the fisheries, and are loath to promote any de- 

 velopment which is likely to curtail their op- 

 portunities for personal influence. It is most 

 encouraging to see evidence that the federal 

 departments are each year becoming less domi- 

 nated by personal and party politics, and that 

 the officials are permitted to follow the facts 

 wherever they may lead, and to apply the pos- 

 sible corrections. So long as this obtains it is 

 the duty of every organization and right- 

 minded individual to support the federal and 

 state authorities in their attempts to admin- 

 ister these assets for the public good. 



Many thinking persons view with alarm the 

 increasing tendency to substitute bureaucracy 

 for democracy and state or federal control or 

 regulation made necessary by changing condi- 

 tions. The danger lies not so much in the 

 form as in the facts. If the bureaus cease to 

 be the real representatives of the demos, and 

 instead of representing the whole people on 

 the firm basis of judicially ascertained facts, 

 their opinions and acts are coerced and warped 

 from the truth by either subjective or objec- 

 tive considerations, so that they no longer rep- 

 resent the federal democratic ideals, but 

 merely localities and special interests, bending 

 to political and transient expediencies, the 

 danger is not only threatening but is already 

 here. The remedy is plain. It is in the hands 

 of the people and must be speedily applied. 

 G. W. Field 



GRANTS FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 



{Continued from p. 5m 

 CHIEFLY COLLEGIATE INSTITUTION'S 



The following schedule embodies informa- 

 tion obtained regarding research funds held 

 chiefly by universities and collegiate institu- 

 tions. With some marked exceptions these 

 funds are available for use only under the 

 immediate direction of the institution possess- 

 ing the fund and by those connected with it 

 either as members of the staff of instruction or 

 as holding a fellowship. Funds devoted to 

 agriculture and the mechanic arts, as for ex- 

 ample those created by the federal govern- 

 ment, it has seemed best to reserve for sepa- 

 rate treatment later and more fully than is 



possible at present. The same is true with 

 regard to funds devoted to astronomical re- 

 search. Also information has yet to be re- 

 ceived regarding marine biological laboratories. 

 Consideration of the appropriations made by 

 Congress for the support of the " Scientific 

 Bureaus " of the United States would seem 

 to come more particularly within the scope of 

 consideration of another sub-committee. 



The data already published regarding re- 

 search funds for scientific purposes which are 

 of general availability throughout the coun- 

 try, and of medical research funds have been 

 gathered from replies to a circular letter issued 

 by the Subcommittee on Eesearch Funds in 

 the spring of 1915, which asked the question: 



Will you be so kind as to inform me whether 

 the institution with which you are connected pos- 

 sesses any research fund and if so what is its 

 amount and for what purposes and under what 

 conditions is it available. 



The letter referred to was sent to such insti- 

 tutions as seemed likely to possess funds of this 

 character, the publications "Minerva" and 

 " Who's Who in Science (International) " 

 serving as guides. It was widely distributed 

 among collegiate institutions. Upon the re- 

 plies received from these last the statements 

 here presented are based. 



University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich. Harry 

 Burns Hutehins, President. Three research 

 assistantships have been established to aid 

 researches of designated professors. 

 University of California, Berkeley, Calif. Benja- 

 min Ide Wheeler, President. Beseareh in gen- 

 eral maintained by appropriations from the 

 university funds. There is a considerable en- 

 dowment for graduate fellowships. Appro- 

 priations for scientific publications are made 

 from general funds, in 1916-17, $30,000. 

 California Museum of Vertebrate Zoology. 

 Supported by annual gift from Miss Annie 

 M. Alexander, of $7,500. 

 Scripps Institution for Biological Research, lo- 

 cated at La Jolla. Wm. E. Bitter, Scientific 

 Director. Supported by annual gift of $10,- 

 500 from Miss Ellen B. Scripps for which an 

 endowment is pledged, and annual appropria- 

 tion of $12,500 from state. 

 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, 

 Mass. Biehard C. Maclaurin, President. 



