Evening star., 1932-12-09

Bureau Of Standards, Department of
Commerce and to retain the commission
to serve in an advisory capacity to the
Secretary of Commerce.
National Advisory Committee for Aero
nautics.
The National Advisory Committee for
Aeronautics was created by the act OF
March 3, 1915 (38 Stat 930), which was
an act making appropriations for the
naval service for the fiscal year 1916,
and for other purposes. The committee
consists of IS members who serve with
out compensation. Its functions are as
follows:
/. Under the law the committee holds
itself at the service Of any department
OF agency of the Government interested
in aeronauticS for the furnishing Of in
formation or assistance In regard to
scientific or technical matters relating
to aeronauticS and in particular for the
investigation and study of fundamental
problems submitted by the War and
Navy Departments with view to their
practical solution.
2. The committee may also exercise
its functions for any individual, firm,
association or corporation within the
United States, provided that such indi-
vidual, firm, association or corporation
defray the actual cost involved.
g. The committee institutes research,
investigation and study of problems
which, in the judgment of it's members
or of the members of its various sub
committees, are needful and timely for
the advance of the science and art Of
aeronautics in its various branches.
4. The committee keeps itself advised
of the progress made in research and
experimental work in aeronautics in all
parts of the world, particularly in Eng
land, France, Italy, Germany and
Canada.
S. The information thus gathered Is
brought to the attention of the various
subcommittee for consideration in con-
nection with the preparation of pro-
grams for research and experimental
work in this country This information
is also made available promptly to the
military and naval air organizations and
other branches of the Government and
such as is not confidential is immedi-
ately released to university laboratories
and aircraft manufacturers interested in
the study of specific problems and also
to the public.
6. The committee holds itself at the
service of the President, the Congress
and the executive departments of the
Government for the consideration of
special problems which may be referred
to 1t.
1t is clear that the National Advisory
Committee for AeronauticS Is primarily
service organization engaged in scien-
tiflc research in aviation for the benefit
of all Federal departments and estab-
lishments interested in aviation prob
lens, as well as of outside firms or
corporations, provided that such outside
agencies defray the cost of service re-
quested. The functions of this commit
tee are closely related to and coincide
with those of the Bureau Of Standards.
The Bureau of Standards is funda-
mentally service organization which
conducts extensive scientific research in
comprehensive list of subjects related
to commerce and industry for the bene-
fit of all Federal departments and estab-
lishments, State governments, and, sub
ject to reasonable fees, the general pub
lie. These researches include among
others the subject Of aviation. The
bureau is represented on the National
Advisory Committee for AeronauticS.
In cooperation with that committee,
the aeronautics branch Of the Depart
ment of Commerce and other Federal
departments, it conducts scientific re-
search in aviation problems. During the
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in aviation such as the following:
Air navigation facilities-radio, avia-
tion lighting, control surfaces Of air.
planes, measurement of turbulence, re-
duction of noise in airplanes, crash
resistant tanks, type testing of CONNER
cial airplane engines, effect of humidity
on engine performance, aircraft -instru-
ment developments.
From the standpoint Of major pur-
pose or function, the subject Of civil
aviation falls in the field of promotion
of commerce and industry and the
major purpose of both the National Ad-
visorv Committee for Aeronautics and
the Bureau of Standards is to conduct
scientific research projects, having as
their objective the protection and de-
velopment of commerce and industry.
The activities of the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics are confined
to the general subject of aviation,
whereas in the case of the Bureau of
Standards aviation is only one among
many other subjects for research. Since
the activities and major purposes of the
two organizations are so closely related,
and fall within the same broad field,
it Is believed they should be more
closely co-ordinated. 1t is therefore
proposed that the administrative duties,
powers, and functions of the National
Advisory Committee for Aeronautics be
transferred to the Bureau of Stand
ards of the Department of Commerce
1t Is believed that the committee itself
should be retained to serve in an ad-
visory capacity to the Secretary of Com
merce.
Weather Bureau.
The Weather Bureau was created as
a separate bureau in the Department
of Agriculture by the act of october /,
1890, which transferred the meteoro-
logical work of the Signal Corps of the
Army to the newly created bureau
The functions of the Weather Bu-
reau, as originally established. involve:
Forecasting the weather, issuance OF
storm warnings, display of weather and
flood signals, gauging and reporting OF
rivers, maintenance and operation of
seacoast telegraph lines, collection and
transmission Of marine intelligence, the
reporting of temperature and rainfall
conditions, display of frost, coldwave
and other signals, distribution of me-
teorological information, taking OF
meteorological observations, for the
benefit of agriculture, commerce, and
, navigation The air commerce act OF
1926 further enlarged the functions OF
the Weather Bureau by requiring that
bureau to furnish such weather reports
forecasts, warnings, apd advices as may
De required to promote the safety and
: efficiency Of air navigation in the
United States and above the high seas
particularly upon civil airways desig-
mated by the Secretary of Commerce
, under authority of law as routes suit
able for air commerce, and for such
purposes to observe, measure, and in
vestigate atmospheric phenomena, ano
, establish meteorological ofnces ano
stations.
The work of the Weather Bureau
; is done for the benefit of agriculture
commerce, and navigation-both ma
rine and air. Regardless OF the de-