New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-15
4 NEEDED SCIENTIFIC REFORM.

With the latest opening of the season of med
zeal, electrical and other scientific conferences
4 familiar characteristic of such meetings in
this city is brought into fresh prominence. The
members are rarely called to order until ten or
fifteen minutes after the appointed time. Not
lnfrequently the delay is greater. Similar tardi-
ness may be observed in formally opening the
proceedings of charitable and social organiza-
tons, and such laxity is not without its draw
backs. Comment is confined here however 10
the group of gatherings first named. because
lack of punctuality among scientific people is
after a fashion, inconsistent with that exact
ness of thought and statement which the world
expects from them and on which they occa-
sionally pride themselves. Men whO,ate trained
TO precision in observation and utterance might
reasonably be expected to be exceptionally
scrupulous in keeping engagements. Any short
comingS in this respect become even more con-
spicuous when a comparison is made with the
promptness with which bank directors meet
ings and church services begin, TO say nothing
of theatres and symphony concerts
Several different causes contribute to the OBJ
served effect Sometimes one of the spea LlerS
Is detained, or some Unforeseen difficulty has
arisen in arranging an exhibit TO illustrate his
talk. Sometimes the presiding officer is late by
accident or design. Occasionally an Informal
consultation over detail OF the evenings pro-
gramme is necessary, and lasts longer than had
been anticipated. In the majority of instances
however, the delay is one which might have
been prevented il it had been considered desir-
able 10 do so. The consequences of DELAY are
various, too. To certain proportion of the
members probably a large one-it is a matter
OF Indifference. They have reserved the even
ing for this special purpose and have nothing
else on hand To another element-possibly q
Misunderstanding involves an Inconvenience
and provokes regret A certain number of men
always have for every odd ten or fifteen
minutes which they can command While wait
ing for a tardy call TO order such persons are
likely 10 think of the letters they could have
written, the references they could have looked
up or the mOmentary visit they could have
made TO friend on the way TO the place of
meeting. With them punctuality is subjected
10 distinct penalty. If many as sixty per
sons are thus robbed of ten minutes simultane-
ously, the incident represents total loss OF ten
hours. should as many as a hundred be de-
prived Of fifteen minutes each, the aggregate
waste is twenty-five hours
Nor is this all. 1t not infrequently happens
that the discussion which follows the presenta-
ton OF papers is the most fruitful part of the
proceedings Any delay I'm beginning IS liable
to curtail comment. Again, many Of the scien-
tific societies which meet in Manhattan include
members from Brooklyn. Owing to the I'M
usual conformation of the metropolis some of
these men have a greater distance TO travel
than is necessary to reach similar gatherings in
any other city in the world. With them every
delay i'm the proceedings discourages future at
tendance.
Whether the custom here referred TO should
be done away with is question not 10 be
hastily answered. A delay on such occasions
has compensatiOns. A chance is afforded thus
for little sociability which tends TO strengthen
the ties Of fellowship. Obviously. though. this
could be conducted equally well if the members
who fo'md IT attractive would come few min
utes earlier This they could easily do if they
once distinctly understood that O'Clock meant
precisely o'clock and that $40 meant $40
The chairman could quickly make that patent
by Few appropriate remarks and Il strict adj
herehce TO rule thereafter for a whole seoson
After all, the matter is almost entirely within
the control OF the presiding officer If M, were
10 feel the pulse of his constituents carafuIIv In
mi kht be induced spontaneously, and wIthort
any agitation To institute change A careful
inquiry might show that those who dos,ro5
greater promptness constituted distinct MT,
ls1rity. The attitude of the other mombo,.
However would undoubtedly be one ne indie,or
ence. not opposition. thereto So far no on
definite preferences were expressed tbare,ora
II is probable that these would be almost ,no,,,
mously for reform
Every hour and every minute which nuh,,o
d..gtf,