Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-29
DINNER TO DR.. SHAW
British Weather Bureau Chief
Guest of Prof. Moore.
SECRETARY WILSON There
Distinguished Foreigner Praises
American Hospitality.
TELLS OF ENGLISH METHODS
It's Mystery to Him How Easy
Washington Bureau Gets Money
for Its Work.
TELLS OF ENGLISH METHODS

DIR. William Napier Shaw, F.. r. s.,
director of the British meteorological
service. and formerly professor at
Cambridge University, who is spending
q week in Washington. was entertained
at dinner last night, at the. Shoreham
Hotel by Prof. Willis l.. Moore and
the scientific staff Of the weather bu-
reau. Among those who attended the
dinner were Secretary Of Agriculture
Wilson. r. W. Carpenter. secretary to
the President; DR.. Woodward. president
Of the Carnegie Institution: Prof
Charles F. Munroe Of George Washing
ton. University. and Wade Ellis, assist
ant attorney general.
It is the first time that q chief Of the
British weather bureau has ever visited
this country for the purpose Of study
ing the American institution, and Prof.
Moore and his assistants did all In
their power to give DR.. Shaw a real
welcome and make him feel quite at
home.
Prof. Moore presided as POSTMASTER.
On his right was seated Dr. Shaw, and
Secretary Of Agriculture. AS conpli-
ment to their guest the menu cards
contained on the upper left-han& cor
ner reproduction Of the flag Of the
British mercantile marine, In the in
terests Of which the British meteorc-
logical service was founded in 1854.
Alter the last course was, served several
impromptu addresses were delivered, In
which, besides welcoming DR.. Shaw, varf-
rur scientific or other questions OF inter-
est to those present were discussed. Prof.
Moore made the address OF welcome. In
which he spoke OF the pleasure and hon
or it gave the members Of the staff OF the
American weather bureau to have as their
guest the chief of the British service. He
took occa sion to pay tribute to Secretary
Wilson for his able management Of the
Department Of Agriculture, to DR.. Wood
ward and his work with. the Carnegie In
stitution and to DR.. Stratton as head OF
the bureau Of standards.
In speaking Of the adoption OF the met
rio system by the weather bureau Prof.
Moore said:
at must mot be forgotten that We exist
to serve the people at large. Our reports
go to the boards of trade, chambers OF
commerce and to individuals who use
them as an aid In their own particular
business. The readers Of the weather re-
ports are not making scientific investiga-
lions They want something that IL in
stantly understandable. When our schools
the metric system with facility 1t Wall be
time for the weather bureau to consider
its adoption"
"Glad to See the Britishers.''
Secretary Wilson made an address in
which he said:
I'VE are glad to see the Britishers
compete with us in the practical ap-
plication Of meteorology. They have al
ways been ahead Of Us In the speculative
phase Of, II, but we have the best of
them when it comes to applying the
science. But we have only to apply IT
over here. We have to show definite
application before we can get a cent from
Congress.
~ lille Prof. Moore sometimes misses
II on a two-cent storm between here aud
Baltimore, his department has done great
work in tracing large storms and hur-
ricanes and protecting shipping and hu-
man life
Dr. Woodward spoke Of the indebted
ness of the Carnegie Institution to the
British government.
Through our emissardes we have
he said land no nation has been more
ready to furnish our men with letters OF
introduction to foreign oficials than
Great Britain"
The lessons that the bureau OF stand
ards has learned from similar institu-
tons In England were told by DIR. STRAIT
ton. who said that 1t was only. recently
that the department IN this country had
been able to return the favors.-
DR.. Shaw's address was listened to with
u.
his appreciation Of the reception that was
extended to him, and said that there is
nothing to compare with the welcome an
Engl!ehnan receives in this country. Re
ferring to the fact that Secretary Wilson
was an Englishnan. he said:
Secretary Wilson an .Englishman.
"Since Secretary Wilson came to your
country he has not had q chance to leave
his duties and return to the land of his
birth. 1t has been much the same with
me. Although for many years / wanted
to visit America and see your magnificent
meteorological service, the nature Of my
duties has been such that [ have been
unable to get away until this summer
The meteorological Office has not only the
British Isles to hook out for Our terri
tory extends through all the possessions
OF Great Britain and all the seas OF the
realm.
what you say about having to show
the application of science before appro-
is true in England, too. II we want
money we must show that what we want
1t for will pay. You seem unusually for
tunate In the way you get your dollars.
wish you would tell me the secret. 1
would gladly make a special trip across
the Atlantic to learn it. And you are
not fortunate in that way alone. In
your Carnegie Institution you have an
encouragement of scientific research
which is not fettered by monetary con-
siderations. II is a possession of which
you should be very proud. That is the
only manner in which research can be
properly prosecuted. and DR. Woodward
is to be congratulated on his connection
with tine institution.
"Referring to the remark Of Prof. Hum
phreys that the end of science is the APP
plication of 1t, II should be remembered
that you must not ask the man Of science
how he Is going to arrive at the end OF
his search, and where it will be- and
when he will get there. You cannot ex-
pect to drive him from behind.
Progress That Has Been Made.
Progress has been made in interna.
| tionaJ .meteorology since the conference
OF 1873, but 1t has been made slowly, aud
great advances still remain. You might
say the scientific men OF the world are
divided into two camps. those who use
our system of units and those who do
not. The spectacle Of the men at that
conference, conversing in many languages
| and two sets OF units, was a sight for
the gods.
Eve, who use the English system. are
under a handicap, because our strongest
allies. the physicists, used the metric sys.
tenn. While in a great and well organ
To t!,n Eo