Page:Science vol. 5.djvu/357

 Apsh. 17, less.]

��331

��The natural iutetligent head of the U. S. govern- ment is the legislative branch ; and no great gain can result from a re -organization of the executive branch, without a corresponding enlightenment and improvement in the legislative. If any fault ezista, or has existed, in the past and present administiti- tion of national scientific work, the trouble is not so mucli with the executive ns with the legislative. The laws enacted by the latter, whether they result from suggestions from the country at large, or from the heads of departments, or their subordiuatea in Washington, are too often imperfect. Some public necessity starts the movement for the formation of a coast-survey, a weather-bureau, a geological sur- vey ; but all subsequent legislation is the result of a great deal of management on the part of the few men directly interested, who rarely give the subject the unprejudiced study that is needed in organi/ing such important concerns. One may know all about forestry or chemistry or statistical methods, may realize their practical importance, and may desire to inaugurate a bureau that shall push either of these subjects to the highest degree of perfection and usefulness; but when it comes to the questions where the bureau shall be placed (whether under military, naval, or civil laws), how the finances shall be administered, with what department it will best affiliate, and how wide its scope of duty shall be, the inaugurators of the new work are necessarily affected strongly by tbeir limited knowl- edge or personal bias, that needs to be offset by a consultation with others of wider experience. The well-defined systematic statutes organi;(ing the corps and work of the coast-survey (not tlie geo- detic or the topographic survey) ; the engineer bureau ; the Smithsonian institution ; the fish-com- mission and other commissions ; the land-ofiice, post-office, patent-office, and other offices, — contrast strongly with the temi>orary fragmentary legislation referring to the work of the bureau of navigation, with its observatory, almanac, and hydrography, the census-office, geological surveys, signal-office, agricultural bureau, the library of congress, and other important national organi/ntiona. In gen- eral, it is well known that legislation touching scientific matters comes before congress from com- mittees who have consulted with competent authori- ties to only a very slight extent; and especially do the more important actions taken by joint com- mitt«es of conference almost invariably represent, not the wisdom of the wisest, but the will of the strongest, man ou the committee. Any thorough solution of our trouble, any radical reform of exist- ing evils, must provide for the infusion of greater

��scientiRc intelligence among our law-makers, and the presence among them of some authoritative board of appeal; so that, before turning over to the president and his cabinet a new item of public work, congress may have fully realized the probable bearings of other works upon it.

In 1663 the act organizing the National academy of science.'! was enacted. This created a body of men eminently proper to act as advisers to the gov- ernment upon any matter of science or its oppM- cntious; and, as this advice is required by lawto be given free of all charge, there hare been numerous occasions on which such has been called for and given. Up to the end of 1883, forty-four such reports are enumerated; but we find only two such to have been called for by congress, and none by the judiciary, the rest having been requested by different members of the executive. In this re- spect we suggest that the legislative branch of gov- ernment has omitted to derive all the benefit that was desirable from this body of representative sci- entific men. The president of this academy, in his annual reports, states fnlly any action taken by the academy each year, at the request of either branch of the government, but with a very delicate spirit offers no advice or comment not called for by the strict letter of the official requests. An act amending the act of 1863, and adding thereto a section requiring the president of the academy to make an annual report to congress on the present state of all national works hearing on science and its applications, with such recommendations as may have the sanction of the whole academy, would give this important body of men an opportunity to speak on behalf of scientific co-workers throughout the country, which opportunity is now offered only through some special request. A further amend- ment to said act, authorizing the academy at any time to communicate to either house of congress its views on the bearing of any proposed legislation without waitin^for special request, would give the country assurance that the scientific, educational, and other interests of the country hare at length an official representative who will be on the alert to defend their interests, and to avert injurious legislation. We believe these two amendmenta would go far towards providing a high tribunal, whose vigilance would insure greater wisdom in legislation; but the following third step is even more important. It is difficult for many outside of Washington to realize that any one who is an em- ployee of the executive branch cannot, without in- curring a reprimand, officially or privately approach any legislator with a view to influence legislation:

��'**^-'^^^

�� �