August 25, 1916] 



SCIENCE 



265 



institutions and research endowments; and the re- 

 search divisions of industrial and manufacturing 

 establishments. 



That, in order to secure a thoroughly representa- 

 tive body, the members of the council be chosen 

 in consultation with the presidents of the Ameri- 

 can Association for the Advancement of Science, 

 the American Philosophical Society, the American 

 Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American As- 

 sociation of University Professors, and the Asso- 

 ciation of American Universities; that representa- 

 tives of industrial research be selected with the 

 advice of the Presidents of the Society of Civil 

 Engineers, the American Institute of Mining 

 Engineers, the American Society of Mechanical 

 Engineers, the American Society of Electrical 

 Engineers, and the American Chemical Society, 

 and that members of the cabinet be asked to 

 name the representatives of the various depart- 

 ments of the government. 



That research committees of two classes be ap- 

 pointed, as follows: (a) Central committees, rep- 

 resenting various departments of science, com- 

 prised of leading authorities in each field, se- 

 lected in consultation with the president of the 

 corresponding national society. (b) Local com- 

 mittees in universities, colleges and other coopera- 

 ting institutions engaged in scientific research. 



The organizing committee also recommended 

 the following plan of procedure, subject to 

 such modifications as the National Research 

 Council may deem desirable. 



1. The preparation of a national inventory of 

 equipment for research, of the men engaged in it, 

 and of the lines of investigation pursued in co- 

 operating government bureaus, educational insti- 

 tutions, research foundations and industrial re- 

 search laboratories; this inventory to be prepared 

 in harmony with any general plan adopted by the 

 proposed government council of national defense. 



2. The preparation of reports by special com- 

 mittees, suggesting important research problems 

 and favorable opportunities for research in vari- 

 ous departments of science. 



3. The promotion of cooperation in research, 

 with the object of securing increased efficiency; 

 but with careful avoidance of any hampering con- 

 trol or interference with individual freedom and 

 initiative. 



4. Cooperation with educational institutions, by 

 supporting their efforts to secure larger funds and 

 more favorable conditions for the pursuit of re- 

 search and for the training of students in the 

 methods and spirit of investigation. 



5. Cooperation with research foundations and 

 other agencies desiring to secure a more effective 

 use of funds available for investigation. 



6. The encouragement in cooperating labora- 

 tories of researches designed to strengthen the na- 

 tional defense and to render the United States 

 independent of foreign sources of supply liable to 

 be affected by war. 



The council of the academy voted to accept 

 the proposals of the organizing committee, and 

 instructed it to proceed with the formation of 

 the National Research Council in accordance 

 with the plan recommended by the committee. 



In consultation with the presidents of the 

 various societies already mentioned, most of 

 the members of the council have now been 

 chosen. 



The endorsement of the president of the 

 United States and the authority to secure the 

 appointment of government representatives is 

 conveyed in the following letter to the presi- 

 dent of the academy: 



Washington, D. C, July 24, 1916. 

 Dr. William H. Welch, 



President of the National Academy of Sciences, 

 Baltimore, Maryland. 

 My Dear Dr. Welch: 



I want to tell you with what gratification I have 

 received the preliminary report of the National 

 Research Council, which was formed at my re- 

 quest under the National Academy of Sciences. 

 The outline of work there set forth and the evi- 

 dences of remarkable progress towards the ac- 

 complishment of the object of the council are in- 

 deed gratifying. May I not take this occasion to 

 say that the departments of the government are 

 ready to cooperate in every way that may be re- 

 quired, and that the heads of the departments most 

 immediately concerned are now, at my request, 

 actively engaged in considering the best methods 

 of cooperation. 



Eepresentatives of government bureas will be ap- 

 pointed as members of the Eesearch Council as the 

 council desires. 



Cordially and sincerely yours, 



[Signed] Woodrow Wilson 



Under this authority, the appointment of 

 representatives of the army, navy and various 

 scientific bureaus of the government will now 

 be arranged with the members of the cabinet. 



