The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-09-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From our regular correspondent.

From our regular correspondent
The announcement that the first con-
tribution to science to be made by the
Carnegie Institution would consist of the
purchase, reorganization and thorough
equipment of the Marine Biological Lab
oratory at Woods Hole, Mass, which
was made in these letters some time ago,
has resulted in exciting considerable crit
icism of the Carnegie trustees, from var
ious scientific sources, notably the editor
of the Popular Science Monthly and Prof.
Albert P. Mathews, professor of physio-
logical chemistry at the University of
Chicago. The purport of the criticisms
offered is to the effect that the Carnegie
Institution should afford pecuniary assist
.ance to such scientific establishments as
may require it, but should refrain from
assuming their proprietorship. 1t is even
predicted by the editor referred to, that,
under the direction of the Carnegie Insti-
tuition the Woods Hole laboratory will
become practically department of the
government and sine cAra for a class OF
scientists who seek to give as little as
they can and get all they CAM He says,
1.-The whole spirit of the place will
change" From source very close to
the trustees of the Institution your cor
respondent obtained some interesting
light Oh the situation at Woods Hole and
incidentally on the spirit which prompts
this sort OF criticism. Nothing, say the
friends Of the Carnegie Institution would
be more objectionable to Mr.. Car
negie than quasi connection with an
institution which was suffering from mis-
management of its financial affairs. 1t is
freely admitted that there has been mis-.
management at the Marine Laboratory
and that there has been friction among
those who have had its interests in charge.
1t was for these reasons that the trustees
of the Institution deemed it essential TO
their assumption of the liabilities of the
Laboratory that they become proprietors
of its assets. The inner history of the
Laboratory reveals long story of mis-
management, not in any sense culpable
mismanagement, but of kind that seems
almost inevitable in connection with an
establishment conducted by men whose
speciality is science in one form or another.
and who are prone to regard business as
merely necessary but disagreeable con.
comitant of all enterprises. The trustees
of the Carnegie Institution, it is almost
needless TO say, are men whom Mr.. Car
negie regards as capable of carrying to
successful issue any project which they
may undertake, and it would i'll become
them to involve the Institution in a
project over whose financial affairs they
could exercise no control. With that end
IN view they made it imperative that they
secure title to the Marine Laboratory be-
fore they wonld consent to contribute the
funds necessary to its maintenance. The
statement that the laboratory will become
practically department of the govern.
ment is entirely without warrant. There is
no connection whatsoever between the In
stitution and the government, and even
the objects OF the Institution are different.
While the chief eud of government scien-
lists is to apply known science to prac-
1icai ends, and it is only incidentally that
they make discoveries of scientific prin-
ciples. the chief end of the Carnegie insti.
tuition IS 10 discover and elaborate scieu.
the principles, the application of which
will be left to others That the trustees
OF the institution will be duped into em-
pioying class of men who will seek
maximum of compensation for a mini.
mum OF performance, is a reflection ON
the breadth aud character of the men
whom Mr.. Carnegie selected to admin
lister the munificeut endowment with
which he founded the Institution and an
assumption mere reading of the roster
of trustees would seem to amply disprove
Apropos of the Carnegie Institution, I
am informed that the trustees have been
Hooded with requests for pecuniary assist.
ance from inventors who desire to secure
patents for their ideas but the rendering
OF such assistance would be in absolute
opposition to the shirt Of fho T,,et;t,t;o.,