Evening star., 1925-12-06
smithsonian Plea for Millions Based Upon Practical Result

sonian scientist One important Amer.
lean industry depends for it's raw ma
terial on the trees and shrubs of Mex
leo and Central America It has been
importing raw gum, 80 per cent OF
which was waste, because it did not
know from which particular gum
trees the commercial product comes
A thorough study Of the trees and
shrubs of the countries in question
by a scientist from the Smithsonian
has now enabled the industry men
toned to eliminate the waste.
Life springs from the soil. and soil
is the result Of the disintegration OF
minerals. But what is the genesis Of
these basic substances? That Is a
Smithsonian investigation which rs
geologists propose to expand.
Palenntology, the study OF fossils,
would seem 10 have no more than a
historic interest, 3 giving us pictures
Of the plant and animal inhablta nj
of all the seas and lands of every age
from the very earliest 10 the present
time. Yet certain studies by Smith
sonian scientists on some of these fos
sils have proved TO be of the creates
economic value in giving us certain
indiCat ton of the occurrence OF valu-
able mineral and oil deposits and THUS
saving millions in fruitless digging.
From studies in the history and de
velopnlent Of primitive man rDodsru
man gains new understanding OF
himself Of his arts and industries,
customs and beliefs. The Smithsoniar
began and has always led researci'
on primitive man in the New World
Much remains TO be done, but thu
plow is rapidly blotting out traces OF
the aborigines.
These examples are illustrative o.
the breadth and scope OF the Smith
Sonian program for research. Bu;
fundamental research does not cover
the entire program Of the institution.
The second and correlative purpose
laid down by the founder was to 'dif-
fuse knowledge among all men, l.
is proba BILE that the Snlithsonian's
service in the diffusion of knowledge
has even surpassed its service in the
increase thereof. Certainly the former
service has no parallel in the world
The institutions publications include
II different series. ranging from the
classic contributions TO knowledge
to the sefni-popular annual reports.
Many Of them are the recognized au-
thorities on the varied subjects with
which they deal. The reports presert
TO the nOn-technical reader in a single
volume the outstanding scientific
progress Of each year. The edition OF
10000 is soon exhausted. 6,400 copies
are distributed free to libraries in To-
countries or dependencies besides the
United States and its territories. Tha
!s the unique fact about the Smith
sonian publications. They are dis
tributed free. And they have the
widest distribution among scientific
groups Of any scientific papers in tn"
world. In whatever corner of the
earth-BOrneo, Siam. Siberia: group
of thinkers is organized one finds the
green covers and golden torch OF the
Smithsonian publications. occupying
the place Vi honor on the librar!
shelves.
Now lack OF funds has forced the
complete suspension - the "Contribu
ticns to knowledge srries. and the re
duction Of the miscellaneous series
from 20 to 10 or I2 volumes a year.
1t is in order 10 restore its publica-
lion TO their former efficiency and
volume. as well as for research. tha'
the Smithsonian * skiing an addition
uf SO 100000 u its endowment.
:: :; :: ::
FINALLY, the institution seeks the
L opportunity 10 utilize its uu-
-.ralleied resources in collections an
equipment in stimulating promisin:1
young men and women TO research
The opportunities and funds for abso-
lutely necessary fundamental research
are inadequate. with the result that
permanent scientific progress is hob
bled and few highly trained experts
are being produced. As Secretar,
Hoover said: We spend s200,000,0Oo
q wear for cosmetics and Sl0,000.000 =
year for pure research
Because the origin of the Smith
sonian is not generally known, be
cause it has never before gone before
the country for funds and because i
administers certain Government bu-
reaus. public opinion has supposed il
to be supported by the Government
Actually. it Is a private institution.
privately founded. privately endowed,
privately equipped and privately
directed
1t sprang from the bequest just one
century ago of James Smithson, an
English scientist, who never set foot
| in this country. In 1926 he willed his
fortune of S550,o00 in trust to the
United States for "the increase and
diffusion of knowledge among men.
! Organized in 1916, the Smithsonian
began at once making geological, bo-
tanical. geological and chronological
| studies of various sections of the con
tinent, collecting specimens and IN
! formation in all these fields. Il
| financed this work from its own pr
vate funds. In 1858 the collections had
| become of such Importance to public
welfare that Congress felt a respon-
sibility for their upkeep and 1t charged
the Smithsonian with the expenditure
of an appropriation to that end. Later
| Congress incorporated these colleC-
| tions into the United States National
Museum. but the Smithsonian Institu-
| ton carried the jor share of the
! burden of caring for them from its
| private income until 1870.
| Subsequently, from time to time.
! the Government recognized that nine
| other outgrowthS of Smithsonian re
searches had become public necessi-
| ties and appropriated for their sup
port also. but never has it made any
grants for research directly to the
Smithsonian. The institution finances
| its research work from its private in
| come and by gifts for special investi-
cations.
AS to the administration of the
! Smithsonian Institution, that is in the
| hands of permanent secretary.
elected by the board of regents, in CO
| operation with the executive commit
tee of the board. The board. composed
Of the Chief Justice, the Vice Presi-
| dent, three Senators, three Represent
atives and six private citizens, all act
ing in a private capacity, exercises
| oversight.
The present board of regents, which
has just announced the S10,000,000 ap-
peal, is composed of Chief Justice
Taft, chancellor: Vice President Dawes,
| Senator Reed Smoot of Utah, Senator
George Wharton Pepper of Pennsyl-
vania. Senator Woodbridge n. Ferris
of Michigan, Representative Albert
Johnson of Washington, Representa-
| Of mi