Evening star., 1925-04-30

to guide public action in reference TO
scIehtllic matters. The
men OF science, who are at the seat
OF Government either constantly or
temporarily, are too much occupied in
the special work which belongs TO
their official occupations to answer
such a purpose; besides. the addi-
tional responsibility. which, if they
We're called together, they must
necessarily bear, would prove too
great a burthen. considering the
ferVld zeal, and l might almost say
tierceness, with which questions of
interest are pursued and the very
extraordinary means resorted to to
bring about successful conclusion.
our country is making such rapid
progress IN material improvements
that it is impossible for either the
legislative or executive departments
OF our Government to avoid, Incl
dentally, If not directly, being involved
in the decision Of such questions
Without specification it is easy to
see that there are few applications of
science which do not bear on the in
terests of commerce and navigation,
naval or military concerns, the Gus
toms, the lighthouses, public lands,
post offices and post roads, either di-
rectly or remotely. If all examination
is refused, the good is confounded
with the bad and the Government
may lose a most important advantage
If a decision is left to influence or to
important knowledge, the worst
consequences follow"
x X
The argument for the close rela
tionship of science to Government
has never been more clearly stated
IL,
quoted. Yet it was IL years after
ward (and then only through the
stress of war; that action was taken
along the lines he presented. His
position was indorsed by other
Enthusiastically Joseph Henry.
Louis Agassiz, DIR. George w. Hill
and Admiral Davis. On February
IL, 1863, Gideon Welles, Secretary of
the Navy, appointed a permanent
der Dallas Bache, superintendent of
the Coast Survey; Joseph Henry,
secretary of the Smithsonian Insti-
tuition, and Rear Admiral Charles H.
Davis, chief of the Bureau of Navi-
cation, to report on matters of
science and art" These members
were empowered to add to their num-
Der to aid in their Investigations.
From this commission grew the
plans when, within a few weeks, de-
veloped into the incorporated Ma
tional Academy of Sciences, through
an act of Congress, introduced by
Senator Wilson of Massachusetts
Prof. Bache was the first president
of the National Academy and Joseph
Henry the second.
Many important scientific expedi-
tions have been conducted under the
direction of the academy, resulting in
observations of eclipses and other
astronomical researches; also in
archaeology, geology, polar discovery,
coast and geodetic survey, on the
on the study of landslides of the
Panama Canal. Also, research has
been made in medicine and public
hygiene, weights and measures, on
polarized light for testing sugars.
For the Navy, committees have
studied magnetic deviation in iron
ships. the wind and current charts of
the oceans, the transit of Venus. For
the State Department. Investigations
have been made to prevent deteriora-
ton of the original parchment of
the Declaration Of Independence.
Several bequests have been made
by lovers of science, from which the
academy has been enabled to give
medals to distinguished discoverers
or students of science, whether
Americans or foreigners. Since 1899.
the academy has been associated
with scientific academies of Europe
and America for the interchange of
scientific knowledge. The Interna-
tional Association of Academies meets
annually, in different countries, with
delegates from each nation.
Copyright, 1925, BY Paul Y. Coiiiasl