Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-20

for by governmental appropriation Some
OF the nations. among them our own. are
inclined to be penurious when providing
for their bureaus. To conduct the work
properly. the Smithsonian authorities es-
innate that they should have an appropria-
tlon Of 10000 a year. Yet congress-. readily
giving a 10000 appropriation to make
Shallow Bottom creek navisable, makes a
wry face when II gives only 5000 to the
support Of the United States regional bu-
reau. Blu for volunteer work by patriotic
scientists America would be unable to
make a ereditable showing,
The failure OF the project through i'm
proper financial support would. be farther
reaching than the catalogue itself. The
eyes Of the photographic world are upon
II, and, II Il succeeds, other interests may
be heartened to undertake similar cata-
lagues. Historians are yearnlnk for a
world catalogue of history. literary au-
thoritles desire an International catalogue
of literature. and social scientists are eager
to possess a catalogue digest Of all the
uplift literature in existence. Failure OF
the international Catalogue OF Scientific
Literature would serve to shrivei the hopes
of those who would apply Its principles
elsewhere.
While the catalogue was established in
London, through English influence and the
call Of Queen Victoria, It was In 1855 that
the Smithsonian Institution first suggested
that some such work ought TO be pub
lished. Later the Royal Society of Eng
land took up the matter, and complied a
catalogue Of the literature on scientific
subjects up to 1883. The growing volume
OF current literature made It impossible
for one organization to continue the work,
and the Royal society, through the English
government, convoked a convention OF bib
liographers to consider the ACCESSIBILITY OF
international cooperation in continuing
the project. This convention was followed
by two others, held in London In 1893 and
1900, when the present scheme was thor
oughly planned and formally launched.
The plan or governing the preparation
and Issuance OF the catalogue Is most
carefully wrought. The governing body Is
the international convention. consisting Of
not more than three delegates from each
body that maintains a regional bureau.
This convention assembled in 1906 and will
meet again in July of this year. Hereafter
it will meet every ten years. It possesses
complete controi over the whole work and
it's decisions shall remain in force for ten
years. There is also an international
council, which consists Of one member APP
pointed by each regional bureau. This
body shall have jurisdiction over all mat
ters when the international convention Is
not sitting, though all of its rulings shall
be In accordance with the REGULATIONS
adopted by the convention. The interna-
tlonal council meets every three years in
London and, at such other lines as the
chairman, with five other member con-
curing, shall direct, Its particular du-
ties are to look. after the central bureau.
1t would be desirable to haVeia card in
dex in addition to the BOOK catalogue. but
no definite steps have been taken in that
direction because the revenues from the
sales OF the book catalogue have no more
thar sufficed to meet the expenses Of the
publication. II the card index can be pro-
vided for eventually the value of the work
will be greatly enhanced. The scientific
activities of the United states are so dl-
verse that it takes some $1,000 entries tc
catalogue it's annual contributions. The
principal subscribers to the catalogue ar,
Libraries and scientific 6rsahizations and
their number is sufficient to bring the
American sales up to about $4,000 a year
1t is the desire OF the regional burtat
for the United States to enhance the
timellneSs OF the calaloSue py HhFlne
monthly check lists issued in pamphlet
form, showing all the American uteratuP,
on scientific subjects appearing a month
or two before. 1t will In nowise Interfere
with the main work and will give sub.
scrIbers the catalogue for the United
states as fast as the classifica tions arc
made. Germany publishes such a checl
list end 1t enjoys wide favor. The cost o.
this extra work will not be more thar
5000 a year If congress can be induced
to appropriate 1t.
ny FEEDERIc J. HAsxrN.
TOmOrrow-TEE ENaErsE ELECT1oTs