Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-09-18
Reply of Friends Of the Institution.

The statements quoted, say the friends of
the Carnegie Institution, say the friends of
themselves. 1t is an evident, If deplorable,
fact that purely scientific institutions, man.
aged by exclusively scientific men are all
too apt to develop friction In their manage
ment, and exhibit an unsatisfactory finan-
cial condition. The admitted condition of
the financial affairs Of the marine biologi-
cal laboratory would appear sufficient in it.
self to warrant the assumption of it's pc
cuniary management by the Carnegie insti-
tuition as prerequisite to its financing the
establishment and, IN the opinion of the
trustees compels them to reject DR.. Math-
ews' conclusion that the results achieved
justify confidence in the future" In this
connection the proposition is advanced that
perhaps the greatest weakness Of numerous
scientific enterprises may be credited to
the fact that the promoters fail to properly
differentiate between the financial and SCI
entifc management and even make tinan-
cial deductions from scientific premises.
Intentions Of the Trustees.
The trustees of the Carnegie Institution
have no intention of falling into this error.
Nothing, in their opinion, would be more
repugnant to Mr.. Carnegie than an alliance
with an establishment which was mis-
managed from financial standpoint 1t
was for that reason that they made full
control of the Woods Hole laboratory a
sine qua non for their pecuniary assistance,
and it may be stated that those who bore
the brunt of the burden expressed gratifica-
ton at the relief offered them. They re-
alize that DR.. Mathews prediction that an
annual income of $4,000 will prove made
quate may be found to be correct, but it is
at least better than an income of $1,000
year. Moreover, the trustees have already
set aside, as has been stated, $4,000 to be
expended at Woods Hole during the next
two years, and ample funds in excess of
that amount are at their command and will
be available should the development Of the
loot vra n a NJ nd a aral
appropriation.
when Mr. Carnegie selected the body
of men to whom he was to intrust the adj
ministration of the munificent endowment
of the Carnegie Institution" said a promi-
nent Washington scientist recently. "he ex-
ercised especial care to chose those whom
he. as master of finance, could rely on
to carry to a successful issue any project
they might undertake, and careful scrutiny
of the personnel of the board Of trustees
would seem to furnish ample evidence of
be hoped that the welfare of the marine
biological laboratory will be as safe under
their direction as it has been in the past"
An Unwarranted Assumption.
The assumption Of the Popular Science
Monthly that the laboratory, under the
control of the Carnegie Institution. will be
practically one Of the scientific depart
ments of the government" Is entirely with
out warrant. says this same authority. The
Carnegie Institution Is in no way affiliated
with the government and is even organized
for an entirely different class of work.
While certain scientific discoveries are
made. from time to time, In the laboratories
of the government. the chief end OF It's
scientific Investigations is, and must be,
the application of science with view to
obtaining results profitable from a COM
mercial or from hygienic standpoint,
Institution is the discovery of scientific
principles, the augmentation Of scientific