2 
that a further effort be mde to secure a.V 9 l^cetxita for the first 
distribution* M Dr. Soit^tt's applioation seeaed to indicate that 
192e would suit as wall as an earlier date, the subeooEdttee naturally 
coaoluded tlmt It would be tira© ©aou^ to decide about the second 
award £ar 1926-1928, after th© first term had been awarded. Hence 
til© request that Dr. Soluaitt resubBdt his plan at the primer tiae. 
In fact, the subcoraaitte© ooiaidered, and I think correctly, that 
it was only con^jetent to ask© recoBaaendations for the first term. 
Tlie reooiaaeniatlon of the subcoiaaittee of ifriich I was not a raeraber 
was unaniioois, and I coHpletely agreed witli them, hence I recosaaonded ■to 
you to take the action you did. In opinion, -^le report of the sub- 
comaitte© so far from being ‘’amazing” is in the best interest of the Museum 
and in conformity with the intent of the textatrix. 
I&y I be permitted to add that as head mrator of the Departanent, 1 
had another and very weighty reason for concurring in the reoomendation 
of tlse subccsmittee. I have above alluded to the lack of a sufficient 
scientific staff in this Department. Year after year this defiiiency 
has l^en coBiplalned of. It is serious in nearly all the divisions. 
But in none aor© so than in the Division of Ifeirine Invertebrates. Dr. 
Sohiaitt himself has stressed the point on ell occasions, calling attention 
to the fact that his respomibility exceeds that of all the other curators. 
It lias been icy hope ever since I assumed charge of the Biological Departmfent; 
that I mi^t live ■to see a euratrai* in charge of each of the iiwer^tebrat© 
plyla. Ho one knows bet-ter then you that the fulfilment of this hope has 
only been deferred because of lack of funds. It does not look to me as 
if this unfortunate condition is likely to change during the iar®dlate 
future. Under these eireumfl^tanoes I confess that I a® ■unable to see hew 
1 could recoiamend that the services of the Cura^tor of -^rlne Invertebrates 
be dispenses with for two years. For that Is wliat the p'oposi'tdon asoanta 
to. There can be no doubt that to get ■&© benefit of the Bacon scholarship. 
Dr. Schmitt would have to divest hiiimelf of ell curatorial duties. 1 do 
not see how he could be half curator and half traveling scholar. 1 suppose 
Dr. Schmitt expects his salary as curator ■to continue while enjoying the 
scholarship) but how, as head curator, could I justify a recosKsendation 
to that effect wliil© at the same titm elaiaorii:^ for more apivopriations 
because his di^vision is undermiinedl This consideration, as stated 
above, with which the subcoHaaittee l«id nothing to do, has been a very 
■weigh^ty contributory reason for ay recoEoendation tliat no bindir^g action 
should be taken at the present time wi^th regard to what Dr. Schmitt jnsy 
do or not do in 1925~1927 or 1926«1928. The recommendation to postpone 
decision on his application was ■wltlioist prejudice, and does not justi^ 
his Boiaewhat inept question which he feels "cons trained to ask, if aeabers 
of the Museum ©■taff are to ’« excluded from the benefits of ■this scViolarshipi 
Kobo^ has attempted to exclode him. 
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