106 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. [VOL. XXXIII. 
often tempted to accept higher salaries in state institutions, and the opening 
of the laboratories to post-graduate work would provide an eligible list to 
fill vacancies as they occur, supply temporary agents, and be a source from 
which state institutions might get assistance in scientific lines. 
ADDENDUM. — The preceding paper, for the purpose of elicit- 
ing discussion and suggestions, was read at a meeting of the 
Philosophical Society of Washington, Dec. 10, 1898, and some 
of the points raised may advantageously be noted here. x 
The discussion took a turn toward the distinct proposition 
of a governmental university, which was considered by Prof. 
Lester F. Ward and Surgeon-General Sternberg, but which 
the present writer regards as impracticable, even if desirable, 
under present conditions. 
The points bearing on the proposition advanced in this paper, 
and which it seems desirable to notice, are as follows : 
1. That the organization proposed would not constitute “a 
university.” 
The writer is entirely indifferent as to the title of the pro- 
posed institution. What he has tried to show is a practicable 
means of utilizing certain at present unused opportunities of 
great value to special students. 
2. That the plan would not accommodate all who might 
apply, and that some bureaus ani not be willing to accom- 
modate any students. 
This is, of course, the essence of the problem. It would in 
any event be impracticable and unwise to hamper the bureaus 
by undesired additions to their corps. But the competition 
for the opportunities would make them even more desirable 
to the ambitious student, and secure for them the most promis- 
ing men. The plan is essentially intended as selective of, and 
only of, the very best. 
3. That while in certain lines there might be opportunities 
for a fair number of students, the fact that there were other 
‘lines in which no students could be accommodated would ren- 
der the distribution of the men among the different branches 
of science unequal, or, to use the phrase of one of the critics, 
the “university would be lopsided.” 
I have never heard of any university in which the number of 
