Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-04-09
AMERICAN SCIENTISTS
TO MEET IN WASHINGTON
I'm Scope Than Kindred Euro
pcan Societies.
BEGIN NEXT MONDAY
National Academy of Sciences Au-
thorizcd by Law to Advise United
States GOvcrnmcnt-Inc0r ell
by Act OF Congress in 1868.

WASHINGTON, April Son April &c
there will meet in Washington seventy
five of Americas most distinguished
scientists. at the annual sessions o..
the National Academy of Sciences. The
meetings and public sessions Will be
held in the United States National
Museum.
This American institution OF savants
is unique. in that it is far broader in
It's scope than kindred European So
cictics. for it is authorized by law to
advise the United States government
on scientific subjects. 1t is also the
American member in the International
Association of Academies
Public scientific sessions will be held
in the auditorium of the Natural His
tory Building of tho United States Ma
tional Museum Monday. April 16. and
Tuesday. April Il. at 1890 \. NJ. and
2:30 =. NJ. and Wednesday. April Is.
at r. NJ y special lecture, known as
the William ElIcry Hale lecture. will
be delivered by DR.. Edwin Grant Conk-
lin. professor OF zoology. Princeton
University. His subject. Methods. and
Causes OF Organic Evolution" is di-
vided into two parts the first of which
will he delivered at the auditorium.
Monday, April ls. At T.. NJ. and the
second on "Wednesday. April Is, at
the same place aud hour.
Among the scientists who will de-
liver papers at the public sessions are
pr. simon FleXner. OF the Rock efeller
Institute. who will speak on certain
mechanismS that defend the body from
the attacks OF infautilc paralysis: Drs
Jacques Loeb and J. Fl. Northrop.
What Determines the Natural Dura-
ton Of Life: DIR. Frank II. Lille, of
the University of Chicago. on Sex De-
termination and Differentiation in
Mammals; DR. Arthur l.. Day. Geophy-
steal laboratory. on The Role of the
Gases in Volcanic Activity" Professor
y. a. Nicholson. University OF Chicago.
Draper medalist. Oh Some Recent
Work in Physics" and DR.. Erwin f.
Smith, bureau OF plant industry. on
The Resemblance Of Crown Gall to
Cancer. and Its Practical Application
in Agriculture" DR.. Henry Fairfield
Osborn DR.. Charles II. Walcott. Pro-
lessor w. y. Noycs. Professor w. 3.
Cannon. DR.. a. G.. Mayer, DIR. Benjamin
Boss. DR. 7. s. Citizens and DR.. S. j.
Mcltzcr. DR. Cha. les y. Davenport. DR..
w. V. King. DIR. Herbert j. Spenden.
DIR. Sylvanus q. Morley. Drs. j. p. Id
dinGs and T.. w. Morley. DR.. II. NJ. Da-
Wis and Drs. r. j. Anderson and Ora
ham Lusk will also present papers
on Wednesday afternoon there will
be "A. discussion on the work OF the
National Research Council i'm relation
TO the national defense. led by DR.. G.. /
r.. Hale. and including reports from
the chairmen OF the committees OF
medicine and hygiene, military. physics
and chemistry.
The National Academy Sciences
Of the United States of America was
incorporated by an act OF Congress
signed by President Lincoln, March .,
1863 TO facilitate scientific research.
secure FOR ii a fuller recognition and
TO accomplish for the scientific develop
ment OF this nation what the Royal
Society and Paris Academy have ac
complished abroad, Tho object was
rendered possible by the organization
Of strong national body to cover
science rs a whole and correlate the
widely divcrged work Of individuals.
Funds are available for the prosecu-
ticu OF researches in different subjects
and for the award of medals for meri-
torious Investigations. Two series of
scientific publications are issued-the
Proceedings and the Memoirs.
The act of incorporation provided
that the academy shall, whenever
called upon by any department OF the
government. investigate examine, en-
pertinent and report upon any subject
OF science or art" 1t was pronounced
by Joseph Henry to he the first rccog-
milton by our government OF the Inn |
portancc Of abstract science rs an es- |
sential element OF mental ana material /
progress. In this connection the pres /,
ent activities of the National Research /,
Council of the academy have proved
of the greatest Importance To the ,
country in It's general preparedness /
program.
The academy membership is com
posed exclusively OF men noted for
original research in all phases OF (
science, men who have earned rccog-
milton by actual discoveries tending
To enlarge the field OF human knowl-
edge.
DIR. WILLIAM ~. WEIGH
HEAD OF ORGANIZATION
Among the incorporators and early
members were the Agassizes. iachc,
Dana. Gray, Henry. Langley, Baird.
Gibbs. Gould. Gill. lie Contc I.cidy.
Silliman. Torrcy. Ncwcomb. and MANY
other eminent scientists OF that time
at present there are lii members.
the most distinguished men
in every department OF science. The
officers are president, DR. William If.