I feel certain that the majority of the members of the scientific professions will agree with me in this matter and that you will find them anxious and willing to cooperate in any fashion should you decide to sponsor such legislation. Very truly yours, CARL S. MINER. SOUTHERN DYESTUFF CORPORATION, Subject: The National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I am a chemist by profession and have spent my entire business life in chemical manufacturing and related work. This corporaation employs a number of chemists and chemical engineers. During the war period, I have had contact with the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, headed up by Dr. W. T. Read. I have found the roster to be well organized and well equipped to perform a useful function in the chemical industry since their records comprise the records of nearly 400,000 scientifically and technically trained individuals along with many important surveys and much technical data. It seems to me that the National Roster should be established as a separate and distinct unit along the lines suggested by the Subcommittee on War Mobilization in July of this year. It is my opinion that you can render to the country a distinct service by sponsoring legislation looking toward this accomplishment. Yours very truly, Hon. H. M. KILGORE, JOHN L. CRIST. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: In further connection with that section of your original bill and the proposed substitute which refer to fellowships for research and a reserve of such scientists, I believe it would also be advisable to consider the incorporation in this provision of the transfer of the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel to the foundation. I understand that the roster contains the names and records of some 400,000 professional people and is thus available for use in time of an emergency while, in addition, it provides occupational information, statistical material, and educational surveys of the scientific fields. These activities are very important in connection with furthering the education and advancement of young scientists for one of the functions of the roster has been to serve to provide facts for the scientific profession to give guidance to the educational institutions. I therefore believe that these phases of the activities of the roster, together with its records, might well be considered as an important activity of the National Science Foundation when it is organized. Sincerely yours, Hon. HARLEY M. KILGORE, R. J. DEARBORN, Chairman, Committee on Patents. UNITED STATES INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS, INC., United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SIR: This letter is in regard to the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. The report from the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the Committee on Military Affairs, United States Senate, July 1945, states: "As part of a postwar national program consideration should be given to continuing the national roster in cooperation with the proposed scientific agency. It could aid in selecting personnel for federally financed research both in governmental facilities and in private laboratories. It could also be of use to private industry in locating needed specialists. The data obtained through such a roster would have a special value as an inventory of scientific workers who could be rapidly mobilized in a war emergency.' I understand that you are interested in this matter and are considering the sponsoring of legislation to establish the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel as a separate and distinct unit along the lines suggested in the report. I have followed the work, in this connection, since it was started and as a professional research chemist, I think that the committee's report could well be followed and the national roster continued. Accordingly, I hope that you will continue your interest in it and introduce the proper legislation. Yours very truly, Hon. HARLEY M. KILGORE, H. L. FISHER, Director of Organic Research. STEIN, HALL & CO., INC., New York, N. Y., September 26, 1945. Senate Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: There appears to be some question as to the fate of the National Roster. A recommendation on this subject was made by the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the Senate Committee on Military Affairs. This recommendation has my hearty endorsement. I believe that the National Roster can be an extremely useful instrument for greater progress of scientific projects and for placing technical men where they will be most happy and productive. I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider the recommendation made by the subcommittee, and trust that you will find it possible to help its incorporation with the proposed scientific agency. My associate, Morris S. Rosenthal, our executive vice president, feels the same way about this matter as I do. Very truly yours, ALEXANDER FRIEDEN, Vice President and Technical Director. HARVEY C. HOPKINS, Senator HARLEY M. KILGORE, New York 17, N. Y., September 26, 1945. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. MY DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I understand that consideration is being given for discontinuing the type of work which was conducted during the war by the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. It would seem to me that it would be a grave mistake to discontinue this department of the Government at a time when the country should put itself in a position to continue work on exploiting the advantages which might be derived from the use of atomic energy. It also seems of paramount importance that scientific personnel be organized so that defense against weapons based on atomic energy can be perfected. During the war I visited the National Roster on several occasions and had considerable correspondence with them. The records and efforts of this group were of invaluable assistance in properly allocating and distributing technically trained personnel for the war effort, and it would seem that this organization should be perpetuated when one of the biggest factors in carrying out peace will be the continuance of organized research. Very truly yours, (Signed) HARVEY C. HOPKINS. STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY DIVISION, STATE OF ILLINOIS, Urbana, September 26, 1945 Subject: National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. Senator HARLEY M. KILGOre, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: As a member of the scientific profession of this country, I am anxious that the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel be continued, and I am, therefore, writing to request that you give consideration to the sponsoring of legislation that will establish it as a distinct organization along the lines suggested in the report of the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the Committee on Military Affairs, United States Senate, July 1945. As an employer of scientific men, I have been in frequent contact with this organization and I have found it to be most helpful in providing information on the scientific personnel of this country to employers and Selective Service. In my opinion the national roster is much better fitted than any other Government agency for professional placement during the reconversion period. I hope that you will do all that you can to preserve it. Sincerely yours, M. M. LEIGHTON, Chief. Senator HARLEY M. KILGORE, INDIANA UNIVERSITY, Bloomington, Ind., September 26, 1945. United States Senate Office Building, Washington D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I am writing to you concerning the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel, and specifically to urge the approval of the report to the Senate Committee on Military Affairs made in July 1945 by the Subcommittee on War Mobilization. As you will recall, this subcommittee recommended that "As part of a postwar national program consideration should be given to continuing the national roster in cooperation with the proposed scientific agency. It could aid in selecting personnel for federally financed research both in governmental facilities and in private laboratories. It could also be of use to private industry in locating needed specialists. The data obtained through such a roster would have a special value as an inventory of scientific workers who could be rapidly mobilized in a war emergency.' During a part of 1943 and 1944, I served as a general consultant to the War Manpower Commission on problems dealing with scientific and specialized personnel, and I was in a position to know the value of the service rendered by the national roster. In my opinion that service was of inestimable value to the armed forces of the country and also to war industry. It seems to me that the discontinuance of the roster in the postwar period would be a distinct loss because in its files these is a very nearly complete inventory of scientific personnel. Upon this inventory both the Government and private industry may depend for the location of specialized workers who will be needed in research and in industrial development during the years that lie ahead in the immediate future. This is especially important since there will be a great scarcity of such personnel because of the fact that during the war we have practically ceased to train young men along all lines. Any consideration which can be given to the continuation of the national roster will be worth while, and I, as an individual, hope that the Congress will find it possible to maintain this service of Government in our country's interests. Sincerely yours, Hon. HARLEY M. KILGORE, Senate Office Building, Washington 25, D. C. H. T. BRISCOE. SEPTEMBER 26, 1945. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I understand that the Congress is presently giving consideration to a disposition of the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel. At the outset, I wish to emphasize that in general I favor elimination of the bureaucracy which has developed in Washington during recent years. Also I should make it clear that these comments are my own, although as an officer of Johnson & Johnson, surgical dressings manufacturers, I have had considerable occasion to utilize the services of the roster. It is my opinion that this is one agency of the Government which should be continued in peacetime, both for the service it could render the Nation during normal times and for the very vital roll which it could play in the event of future war. As a professional man myself and as a member of industry, I strongly favor the continuance of this organization as a separate and distinct unit of Government. 883 In general I am in accord with the report of the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the Committee on Military Affairs submitted in July of this year, and I believe that anything you can do along these lines will be in the best interests of the nation. Respectfully yours, JAMES DESHLER. Hon. HARLEY M. KILGORE, CHICAGO 15, ILL., September 27, 1945. United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: Information has reached me that the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel may be dropped. It is thought that the Roster can be of permanent value. Serious study should therefore be given to its preservation and future utilization. I submit this for your consideration, knowing your special interest in this field. O. H. WURSTER. THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Department of Chemistry, September 27, 1945. Senator HARLEY M. KILGORE, DEAR SIR: My attention has been called to the danger that the activities of the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel may be discontinued because of the end of the war. very unfortunate since the war has shown us the great need of some central It would seem to me that such an action would be organization which would maintain a list of specialists who might be needed, not only in emergencies but in the carrying out of the type of research which is essential for the future national safety and economic security of the country. Owing to the rapid demobilization of the scientific war projects sponsored by the Government, many persons of highly specialized experience and skills are likely to drift into employment in which these skills are not used at maximum efficiency. Inasmuch as many of the projects, in which the specialized experience was secured, were of secret character and did not lead to publication of results, the fact that the men have the specialized experience gained in this work is not generally known. Only some central organization, such as the national roster could have a record from which one could ascertain the personnel available for any special research that might be in process or being planned. The discontinuance of the activities of the national roster would lead to a loss in the full exploitation of the scientific manpower resources of the country. The loss would be particularly serious at the present time because there will be a considerable period before a new group of young men will have been trained for scientific work. I am addressing this letter to you because your past activities in connection with the development of research, both fundamental and applied, have indicated great interest on your part in this important phase of the country's needs. I hope that you will use your influence in maintaining the National Roster or some equally responsible and qualified organization. Very respectfully yours, Senator HARLEY M. KILgore, Washington, D. C. H. I. SCHLESINGER, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, DEAR SENATOR: Knowing your keen and intelligent appreciation of the tremendous importance of the maximum utilization of our scientists and technicians for the defense and development of our country, as evidence in your Senate bill 1297, for the creation of a National Science Foundation, I am writing you to urge that you give serious consideration to the desirability of sponsoring such legislation as will definitely establish the National Roster of Scientific and Specialized Personnel as a separate and distinct unit, along the lines suggested in the recent (July 1945) Report from the Subcommittee on War Mobilization to the Committee on Military Affairs, United States Senate (from the Government's Wartime Research and Development, 1940-44). I am sure that you are entirely familiar with the splendid work which that organization has been and is still doing in placing scientists and technicians where they can render to their country the greatest service of which they are capable, instead of wasting these invaluable human resources on jobs which could be equally well done by men without this highly specialized training. In the postwar reconversion era, such an agency will be sorely needed by industry as well as by Government. With personal regards, I am, MARSTON T. BOGERT. Hon. HARLEY M. KILGORE, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, United States Senate; Washington, D. C. CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT, Evanston, Ill., September 24, 1945. DEAR SENATOR KILGORE: I have been impressed with the efficient work during the last several years of the national roster. Even though its hands were tied in many instances it has performed outstanding services, and I am sympathetic toward anything that you may do toward its preservation in the coming years on some status where it can function satisfactorily and effectively. Yours very truly, CHARLES D. HURD, Professor. HUNTINGTON, W. VA., September 12, 1945. Mr. HARLEY M. KILGORE, United States Senate, Washington, D. C. DEAR SENATOR: Re Science Research Foundation. I appreciate the bills sent me as I have a major interest in this subject-purely a hobby with me. But I must confess my disappointment in even their combined merit. May I make a suggestion, without going into a lot of detail at this time. First, establish a truly American plan, based on the material and resources we now have at hand. We know it is going to take about $300,000,000 per year to do an effective job. Allocate this money to the States according to population that the respective States' interests may be developed. By interests I mean both men and material. Say $5,000,000 were to come to West Virginia. This to be placed under the supervision of a land-grant college for application to research projects in all institutions. Yes, down into the high schools for our high school science teachers must be cultivated-they are trained men-likewise we want them to reach promising boys and girls. This may strike you at first as very elementary in relation to vast research as the atomic bomb. But I have in mind the General Motors plan for mass production-it is not what they can do in their great factories-these are only supplementary to the thousands and thousands of "vendors" who work on parts in small shops of their own. Thus, think of the science teacher and his class as a "vendor" in scientific research (manual training, domestic science, etc.). Forget the ownership of patents, etc., for the "idea" is the valuable thing and not the small amount of financial assistance. If it is worth while, the Government will receive back many times its investment in better living and taxes. Money cannot buy "creative ideas." The sole purpose of this letter is to get over to you the picture I have of "Research and the creation of a plan to encourage and train American Boys and Girls for Research"-a research plan that will build up every State according to its resources. I have purposely stayed clear of the organization for administering such a plan for it's the "idea" that is all important. Cordially yours, JOHN L. STEwart. |