NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
81 
Mr. Merriam, Chairman of the Committee on Relations with State Research 
Committees, presented the following report: 
It is the opinion of your committee that the greater part of the problem work of the 
National Research Council can be handled most satisfactorily through the special commit- 
tees or divisions established for research in specific fields of investigation. To a limited ex- 
tent phases of these investigations of problems may be turned over to adequately organized 
and supported research groups in different parts of the country, some of these groups rep- 
resenting educational or research institutions and others being organized under the auspices 
of state governments or state Councils of Defense. 
As numerous important problems of research relate to the development of natural re- 
sources, industries, consideration of health conditions, and other problems of a local na- 
ture, it seems desirable in many cases to have an organization of research interests related 
to the state, and if possible supported by it. Such organizations might, under existing 
conditions, be best cared for as committees under the state Councils of Defense. 
It is desirable to have the National Research Council so related to the state research 
scientific committees that the results of their investigation may become quickly available 
to the central office of the Council, and that the needs of the Council for work of a local 
character may be met by the state committees. 
Your Committee respectfully suggests the following definition of function, organization, 
and relations of State Research Committees: 
Function of State Research Committees. Problems involving local needs in the de- 
velopment of natural resources, local industries, health conditions, or any matters to which 
science may lend its aid; and problems involving local materials, industries, laboratories or 
talent, development or use of which would contribute to the good of the nation as a whole 
or in part, regardless of questions of needs of the state in which the investigation originates. 
Organization of State Committees. In initial organization the state committee should 
be small, but widely representative of fields of research. Additions to membership should 
be made as actual research progresses. The committees should, at the outset, include 
members of state boards covering work in which scientific research plays an important 
part, and representatives of scientific organizations or institutions at which significant re- 
search is in progress, especially institutions in which research committees are organized. 
State research committees should at this time be organized as sub-divisions of state 
Councils of Defense, where such councils exist. 
Financial support of state committees should come from state funds received by way of 
the state Councils of Defense, or from other special funds. It is in all cases desirable to 
have secretarial organization permitting full correspondence on all matters relating to the 
committee. 
Relation of Research Council to State Committees. It is desirable to have the state 
research committees affiliated with the National Research Council; the results of work of 
these committees should be reported to the state Council of Defense and to the National 
Research Council by way of either or both of these bodies; results obtained by the state 
research committees should go to the Council of National Defense when needed. 
It was voted that the above report be adopted as furnishing the mode of 
procedure to be used by the National Research Council in directing its rela- 
tions to state research committees. 
The Chairman of the Council spoke at length with respect to the adoption 
of an organization of the Council devised to meet immediate war needs. The 
present organization, adopted in 1916 for a period of one year, is essentially 
a peace organization. Under war conditions the Council is engaged almost 
