580 
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL 
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL HELD ON 
THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 1917, IN ROOMS 42 AND 43 OF THE UNITED 
STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM, WASHINGTON, D. C. 
The Chairman of the Council, Dr. George E. Hale, presided and called the 
meeting to order at 10.15 a.m. The following members were present: Dr. 
Alsberg, Dr. Baekeland, Dr. Bogert, Dr. Carty, Dr. Clarke, Dr. Conklin, 
Dr. Coulter, Dr. Davis, Dr. Day, Mr. Dunn, Admiral Earle, Mr. Freeman, 
General Gorgas, Dr. Hale, Dr. Holmes, Dr. Keen, Mr. Manning, Dr. Millikan, 
Dr. Moore, Dr. Noyes, Dr. Pupin, Mr. Skinner, General Squier, Dr. Stratton, 
Mr. Swasey, Chief Constructor Taylor, Dr. A. E. Taylor, Dr. Vaughan, 
Dr. Walcott, Prof. Webster, Dr. Welch, Dr. Whitney, Professor Wood, Dr. 
Yerkes; and the! Secretary, Gary T. Hutchinson. 
The minutes of the organization meeting of the Council held in September, 
1916, and of meetings of the Executive Committee held since then, were 
presented by the Secretary, and upon motion were adopted as printed in the 
Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences. 
The Chairman stated that the main purpose of the present meeting was to 
offer an opportunity for a discussion and determination of methods for ad- 
vancing the work of the Council as affected by actual war conditions. He 
spoke particularly in this connection of the work of the Foreign Service 
Committee of the Council. 
The Chairman referred to the material assistance furnished to the Council 
by the Engineering Foundation, and to the need for additional donations 
with which to continue its work. 
Dr. Stratton as Secretary of the Military Committee, presented a report 
for that Committee laying emphasis upon the customary mode of procedure 
in selecting and detailing a scientist, or a group of scientists, to work upon 
definitely specified problems in direct co-operation with representatives of the 
War Department and the Navy Department of the Government. 
Discussion took place with reference to the desirability of publication of 
lists of problems for distribution among men of science. 
The Chairman mentioned the appointment of Dr. Millikan as Vice-Chairman 
and Executive Officer of the Council, and the presence in Washington of the 
chairmen of many important committees. 
Modes of procedure to be adopted in organizing the Washington Office 
of the Council, and in bringing about the necessary co-operation between 
committees were discussed, and the need was emphasized for the publication 
of statements concerning the activities of the Council, particularly for the 
use of members of the Council and of Chairmen of Committees. 
Discussion also took place concerning the availability of men for special 
work, and concerning methods to be used in designating them for such work. 
