Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-08
RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE
President Of National Commission Writes
Of Scope of the Work,
WHAT EACH MEMBER IS TO DO DECIDED
Letter TO Chairman Indicates some of
the Problems which II IL Inn
perative should be Taken
Up and Solved.

WASHINGTON, April THE nature and
scope Of the work of the commission re-
Gently appointed to inquire into and report
as to the organization and policy that
sho aid prevail in the expenditure of public
moneys provided for scientific experimental
tion and research in the interest of agri-
culture are discussed in letter from L.
II. Bailey of Cornell university to Presi-
dent David Starr Jordan of Leland STAN
ford university. a copy of which was re-
ceived by clifford Pinchot, chief of the
forestry service. Mr.. Bailey is president
OF the Association OF Agricultural Colleges
and Experiment Stations, which the com
mission represents, and DR.. Jordan is chair
man Of the commission. This commission
has held several sessions in Washington
In the last few days, during which the
work OF the various members was laid
out The members have discussed the
proposed work with President Roosevelt
and it is said he is much interested in
what II is expected to accomplish.
President Baileys letter says.
The occasion for the creation OF the COM
mission lies In the fact that in the very
rapid evolution of experimentation and re-
search in agriculture in the United States
there has not arisen a clear understanding
OF mutual limits and relationships or a
settled policy in relation to many public
ciples Of action.
Needs of the Service.
There undoubtedly needs to be a CO.
relating and harmonizing of subjects and
methods; an understanding of the proper
scope, function and limitations OF national
ana state agencies a conception of the re-
lation of institutions in the state to federal
appropriations and CONTROL of the most
euectlve distribution OF investigation ef-
forts among the different state and national
lnsutuuonsi consideration of the influence
exerted in research in agriculture by the
current methods OF appropriations by legis-
latures of the relation OF the individual
worker to institutional organization; discus
sion Of what constitutes search that shall
produce useful and worthy results; the re-
latlon OF this result to the teaching and
puoncity functions Of the institutions; con-
sheraton Of the relation of research In
agriculture to the general body OF science
and the coordination OF them and in gem
eral such a directing of experiment and re-
shall render compact and econonize the
work, render It more fertile and effective
and integrate it with wise policies In the
interest OF the public welfare.
It lies with the commission to cover much
or little of this field. but It would be es-
sential to cover the best methods Of or
ganizing research work, the mutual rela-
tions OF experiment stations and federal
agencies and the general character OF re-
search that may issue from institutions
founded on public money.
President Bailey says that the commits
sion may consider any other research work
supported by public money that promotes
agricultural knowledge and efficiency. II
cannot, he says, neglect direct educational
questions insofar they touch the inter
relation of experiment and research in the
Institutions and particularly as they relate
to the training of men to undertake re-
search.