$ 
ican industry, but this tax on the instruments and books F 
_hibitory. Can it be wondered that every plan for 
ent duties, would tend generally towards the ad 
922 Editors Table. 
EDITORS’ TABLE. 
EDITORS; E. D. COPE AND J. S. KINGSLEY. 
Wantep: A definition of a “ Philosophical Instrument.” “Go 
to the dictionary,” did you say? The definition there found: 
of no use for present purposes. What is wanted is one which 
the United States customs officials will respect and be com 
to abide by. These self-sufficient and irresponsible agents of 
the people have their own views on the subject, and their de- 
cisions would be amusing were they not so aggravating. There 
is an instrument known as a hydrometer. It consists of a glass 
tube, containing mercury in its lower portion, and a scale. This 
the ruling says, is a philosophical instrument, and, as such, 
a duty of thirty-five per cent. The same materials combined 
a thermometer constitute no longer a philosophical instrument, 
but a “ manufacture of glass,” and, as such, pay a duty of forty 
five per cent. So far as we have been able to ascertain, none 
the instruments used by the biologist are to be ranked as 
sophical instruments. Microscopes and microtomes are “m 
ures of metal,” as ruled by the Washington wiseacres, 
opposition to the opinions of the best’ scientific men of 
country. 
This question of duty on importations is a S$ 
Scientific men. It is all very well to talk of protection 
erious one 
to Amer 
Student of science actually results in the discouragement © 
knowledge. If the student desire to import for his own ™ 
any book in a foreign language,—a book which has n 
slightest chance of being reprinted here, —he is met by me 
of twenty-five per cent, —a rate which, in many ¢as°, " 
smuggling 
desired books is tried? A more reasonable interpretation 
existing laws, or, better, a revision and a reduction of the P 
honesty: 
American science and the promotion of American 
