New-York tribune., 1901-03-09
NEW GOIERN1NENT BUREAU.
THE NATIONAL sTANDARDIZING Bu
REATr AND WHAT ITS DUTIES ARE.
TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE.l


Washington March s.-Among the bills signea os
she President on March one 10 establish me
National Bureau OF Standards. IL was In name
and effect a conversion Of she Office Of STANDARDS
Weights and Measures under the Treasury Depart
rpent into a Standardizing Bureau As was saiu
by the House Committee on Coinage, weights ana
Measures in its report of May l. 1900, the introdue
,,on ~ accurate scientific methods into manufact-
rring processes makes necessary the use OF a tar
greater variety % accurate standards and standara
measuring apparatus than was formerly required,
and enormous commercial transactions are baseo
daily on the reading Of measuring apparatus. IN
accuracies IN which involve great injustice nhah-
cial loss and expensive litigation. The committee
further pointed out that large proportion or the
scientific apparatus used by schools. colleges. uni
versities and laboratories is imported and Arneri
can manufac cturers cannot compete with the manu-
facturers OF other countries without the facilities
OF a suitable stanoardizng laboratory. besloes
the scientific work OF the government requires the
use Of many standards and instruments OF pre-
cision which anot be procured OF tested IN thls
country thus Involving great loss OF time incon-
venience and lack OF uniformity. The committee
therefore was Of the unanimous opinion that the
establishment OF the bureau proposed was essenua
The act declares that the functions of the bureau
shall consist of the custody OF the standards used
IN scientific investigation engineering manufactur-
ing commerce and educational institutions with
the standards recognized 10y the government; the
construction. when necessary. OF standards, thelf
hration OF standard measuring apparatus the solu-
tion OF problems that arise in connection with
standards the determination OF physical constants
and the properties OF materials when such data are
OF great Importance and cannot be obtained with
sufficient accuracy elsewhere Further the bureau
shall exercise its functions for the government OF
the United States. for any State or municipal gov
eminent, or for any scientific society educational
institution. firm. corporation OF individual within
the United States engaged in manufacturing OF
other pursuits requiring the use of standards or
standard measuring instruments.
The officers provided for a director, al an
annual salary of $500; one physicist at annual
salary OF $500, chemist at annual salary
$500: assistant physicists. or chemists. each
at annual salary OF $500; one laboratory as
sstant. 81 400 laboratory assistant al $780,
one secretary, at 5000; one clerk, at $500: one
messenger at $40; engineer. al 1850; one
mechancian, at s.. 400. watchman al sl20, one
aborer at $500 The director is 10 he appointed by
the President and confirmed by the Senate. The
other officers 10 be appointed by the Secretary
of the Treasury The sum OF s27.lsO is appropriated
for salaries End 10000 toward the erection Of a
suitable laboratory, not 10 exceed IN cost SzooVs
be OF hreproof construction and 70 INCLUDE pefna-
nent nNtgres snen as p,n"g Far NJ ssoninmen;
OF the laboratory $1,000 Is appropriated ana sE9go.
Treasury The act also places SVo IN me haIos
OF the Secretary for the payment of general eX-
penses, including books, periodicals fUrnitufe sta
iionery and printing heating and ia h;ing, expenses
of the visiting committee and contingencies OF an
kinds The act provides for reasonable fees. ac-
>ording d schedule submitted by the director and
approved by the Secretary of the Treasury, except
States the State governments. Once year a
visiting CommiI Of 1--WE members appointed Dy the
Secretary OF the treasury anq no. ~ 1e reop ~
20 the Secretary on the efficiency OF It's scenIltc
committee will receive only its actual expenses
one member will retire each year