ek) Neer. 
FRIDAY, APRIL 25, 1884. 
COMMENT AND CRITICISM. 
Tue National academy of sciences, which 
met at Washington last week, labors under a 
serious disadvantage in being able to meet but 
twice a year; more frequent meetings of a 
society whose membership extends over the 
entire country being impossible under present 
conditions. Notwithstanding this disadvan- 
tage, it is of the highest importance that the 
leading scientific workers of the country should 
form an organized body; and the academy 
seems to fulfil the objects of such an organiza- 
tion as well as any that could be devised. It 
is hampered by no rules that do not admit of 
being amended whenever it is found necessary 
so to do, and there is no limit upon the mem- 
bership except what the academy may itself 
see fit to impose. The infrequency of its 
meetings does not prevent it from being always 
ready for action on any subject referred to it 
by congress, or any department of the gov- 
ernment. The president of the academy can 
at any time appoint a committee of experts 
to investigate and report upon the questions 
submitted, and he has authority to accept the 
report of such a committee. At first sight, 
this system might seem to place too much 
power in the hands of the president and any 
committee he chooses to name; but, practi- 
eally, the danger of this power being abused 
is no greater than in ali human affairs. Imn- 
portant reports are submitted to the academy 
for approval whenever practicable; but even 
then the academy can seldom or never do 
better than accept the opinion of the experts 
who have investigated the subject. The va- 
ried applications of science are now so highly 
specialized, that conclusions depend more upon 
a minute examination of details, such as only 
a committee can enter upon, than upon gen- 
eral opinions. t 
No. 64. — 1884. ° 
The most important functions of the acad- 
emy are those which grow out of its relations 
to the government. The liberal spirit which 
animates both congress and the executive 
departments in their dealings with scientific 
affairs is very apt to lead them into the sup- 
port of scientific enterprises without any suffi- 
cient consideration of the conditions of success 
and of efficient and economical administration ; 
and a careful consideration of each proposed 
undertaking by a committee of experts is what 
is wanted to insure the adoption of the best 
methods. Indeed, it is worthy of considera- 
tion, whether congress would not do well to 
adopt the principle that it would make no 
appropriation for a new scientific object unless 
the plan of operations were first submitted to 
and approved by the academy. 
OLEOMARGARINE, suine, and all forms of im- 
itated and adulterated butter, receive heroic 
treatment by the legislature of New York. A 
bill has passed the senate by a vote of twenty- 
five to four, and the assembly by ninety-nine 
to one, which absolutely prohibits the manufac- 
ture or sale of bogus butter within the state. 
Penalties in fines of from fifty to a hundred 
dollars are imposed for violations of the act; 
and a dairy commissioner, appointed by the 
governor, with a salary of three thousand dol- 
lars, is to be allowed twenty thousand dollars 
with which to enforce the statute. At this 
writing, the bill only awaits the signature of 
Goy. Cleveland to become a law, and go into 
effect the first day of June. 
This action resulted from an order of the 
senate, to its committee on public health, to in- 
quire into the adulteration of food and dairy 
products. Various agricultural organizations 
had previously pressed the matter upon the 
legislature; the State dairymen’s association 
sending an active committee to Albany to look 
after it, and furnishing counsei for the senate 
