The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-10-05

ipAuuiHSuI mcmDerB, ana tnelF 0uI104
will be not to tell the navy how to
conduct Its business nor to foisf upon
the Navy Department our own or the
inventions of others. The board has
nothing to do with inventing as such
whatsoever. 1t is merely consulting
body, to which. IL the department
wishes. any new idea submitted to
the navy from any source may be
submitted to the experts on the board
for an expert opinion as to whether
or not the idea has merit enough to
warrant further experimentation and
research.
Not Organized For Purpose.
The members OF the board are not
organized to suggest such ideas to the
department. AS experts. they expect
merely to say yes or mo- regarding
the worth of ideas submitted by others
II as individuals any member should
happen to have an idea of his own
to suggest, such inventions would
have to be submitted to the depart
ment through the regular channels.
just as any man in the country would
ouer his invention to the navy for
consideration by the department"
Mr.. Edison and Mr. Hutchinson both
called attention to the fact that the
organization of the board of experts
is IN no way an implication that the
navy Is lacking in Annapolis trained
experts OF its own. It Is Mr. Edisons
Idea. however, tina; the board. includ-
ing, as IT does. acientific specialists
OF international fame. can lend invalu-
able aid to the department because
of the life work the members have
given each to a special kind in re-
search work. Graduates of Annap-
oils, II was pointed out, are among
the twenty-three on the board
A Board Of Specialists.
In fact. the navy and the board"
suggested Mr.. Hutchinson. "mieht be
likened to medical case. The navy
is the general pjractioner. the
board member to which the depart
ment submits an idea is. say. a
stomach specialist. Even the spe
cialist. understand. sometimes calls
other specialists into consultation,
Also general practitioner and spe-
cialist alike is not compelled to fol-
low the advice of the man called into
consultation"
Mr.. Edison believes that there
should be a staff OF naval officers.
each one a specialist in his work
connected with the board. Then IL a
navy man or civilian should sug-
gest a new idea, If Mr.. Edison's sng-
gestions for procedure are adopted,
head, who would submit 1t to the
member Of his staff of naval officers
best fitted to pass upon the new idea
When staff aides have separated
the obviously impracticable ideas
from those which look likely, staff ex-
perts Of the different branches OF
science should make a further In
vestigation of the ideas that seem
good. their expert knowledge per-
ha~ to- t~
definite action to the naval head
Point Where Board win Act.
Right here, according to the Edi-
son idea, is where the civilian board
members as individuals or members
may he called Ito the work. In
case the naval head believes it de-
sirable to have further informa ton or
advice Mr. Edison suggests that the
naval head submit the idea to
civilian consulting expert or experts
whose lifework is such that his ad-
vice would be of help to the depart
ment
With the yes of the civilian ex-
pert at hand the naval heads next
move. Mr.. Edison thinks, would be
to refer the idea to the Secretary of
the Navy on the matter OF further
activity and If the decision is to go
head with the development of the
idea all the papers. etc. are then to
be placed in the hands of the COM
manding officer of the laboratory
which the board hopes the navy will
acquire through congressional appro-
priatfon.
The development and trial OF the
invention submitted would then be
made by the naval laboratory forces.
In Mr. Edisons plan. lastly. before
an invention is accepted or rejected
1t should have the O. X. of the Secre-
tary of the Navy.
The whole idea of the consult
ing board" Mr.. Edison Concluded
before turning again TO mis- beloved
chemicals and retorts. rs so sane
and simple that don't see how any
misconceptions concerning the board
could have arisen. We're not invent