Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-23
PROMOTING RESEARCH
DISCUSSION OF OBJECT OF THE
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION.
How the Ideas of the Founder May Be
Realized - Suggestions by
presenlative Men.

ton can best be secured Is a question that
has been discussed in the last three issues
of Science by the editor and other repre-
sentative men. These talks cannot fall to
prove serviceable to the trustees, who are
already considering the matter. 1t Is not
unlikely that suggestions have been offered
which are new to them. At any rate, the
discussion, by revealing the sentiments Of
scientific men not directly charged with the
administration Of Mr.. Carnegie's gift, may
serve to intensity or weaken convictions
previously held on doubtful points. The
task OF the trustees In formulating gen.
eral plan of action for the future Is one OF
grave Importance and much delicacy. How
best to apply from $500 900 to $5O0,OO0 year
to scientific research Is not a simple prob
lem. 10 determine this wisely 1t is neces-
sary to know both what Is already being
done and what might be done with GER
tain amount of financial assistance. An
other essential is a careful study of aSen-
cies and methods.
Funds for Research.
1t seems to be taken for granted that a
conspicuous, perhaps the chief, function OF
the Carnegie Institution will be to help with
money investigation under the auspices OF
existing organizations and by individuals
who give promise of desirable results. 1t
will undoubtedly act, to employ Professor
CATERS happy phrase, as sort OF Special
providence. Professor Branner thinks that
there should be committees OF experts to
judge Of the merits Of various applications
for help. Professor Morris Loeb believes
that 1t would be expedient to conduct the
distribution mainly through existing scien-
tif1c societies Ex-Surgeon General Stern
perg recommends giving preference to those
who have definite plans of alta cking given
problems. Even should the trustees adopt
all OF these suggestions they would still be
ophgeo to decide how large proportion of
the income from the Carnegie fund they
would use in this way and how much they
would reserve for other purposes.
bhey must also consider whether, in come
instances. 1t would be advisable to make
tnelr awards conditional upon the raising
or like sums by the beneficiares. Perhaps
they may deem it wise not to pursue an in
variable policy in this respect. 1t does not
seem likely that they will fall into the err
ror OF hampering their gifts with too many
petty limitations. When 1t was proposed in
England few months ago to raise by pop
ular subscription a fund to promote an in
curry into the cause of cancer the Hos
pltal pointed out the danger that unscien-
t1nc administrators might insist on getting
dennlte results within a prescribed time-a
very unfortunate exaction. Still another
point which the Carnegie trustees will need
&c weigh Is how far 1t is expedient to en-
cow university felowships for research.
ou11oluS IN washington.
separate group Of questions is raised by
the proposition to erect building in Wash
1ngton which shall be primarily an estab-
lishment for research and incidentally
home for the administration of the institu-
ton. Would 1t be in harmony with Mr..
Carnegies intention, to devote any money
to such construction, How far could the
national government appropriately assist,
with grants Of land and money. in the erec-
ofc =, ,5x,,,@ -
lar lines Of investigation should be under
taken there? Prof. ,CattelI favors the crea-
.tion Of laboratories for chemistry, physics
and psychology. When the work was I'M
der way its conduct would cost, he thinks
$4,000 a year while $4,000 more might be
needed for the expenses Of the executive
obviously: the amount available for out
side benefactions would depend largely on
the sum required for this purpose. Hence
the necessity for determining the relative
Importance of the two possibilities. Should
1t be deemed desirable to establish these
laboratories. there Is little likelihood that
there would be any duplication of work
now done under governmental auspices ex-
cept in the department Of chemistry. Even
this might be, and probably would be-
shaped so as to avoid any appearance Of
competition.
Scientific Periodicals.
Not the least valuable of Prof Gait alls
recommendations relates to the assistance
pected to give to scientific periodicals. AS
the editor of Science and the Popular Sci
ence Monthly, he is In position to know at
how great pecuniary loss and with how
large an expenditure of unremunerated la
Dor and enthusiasm periodicals Of this class
are carried on, especially in this country
The same Is true of some of the technical
publications issued by organized scientific
societies and by leading universities. A
judicious bestowal Of subsidies on maya
zines and journals of this class would GER
tainly be commendable. That use of money
would be a practical stimulus to the dis
semination Of useful knowledge.
One of the undertakings which the insti-
tuition has been invited to support Is a thor
ough study of the relations between capital
and labor and Of the private ownership Of
natural monopolies. The suggestion grows
out of the pending coal strike. The ques-
ton whether the scope Of the institutions
work is broad enough to embrace econom-
les or not is raised by this proposition. In
asmuch as the executive committee has ap-
pointed an advisory board on political econ
omy; though, there seems to be little room
for doubt on that score. 1t is needless to
saw that the inquiry itself is one of i'm
mense practical Importance. Much can be
said in favor Of it's being fathered by the
Carnegie Institution