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INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
Vol. 15, No. 4
EDITORIALS Reclassification OR two years there has been a legislative struggle for a reclassification of federal employees which will make it possible for them to receive a more adequate wage. This action culminated in the passage, during the closing hours of Congress, of a law for the betterment of conditions for such employees. Unfortunately, however, the salary provisions do not become effective until July 1, 1924. The conferees struck out of the final bill descriptions of the duties of various positions and inserted in their place a paragraph directing the classifying board to follow the executive order of October 24, 1921. The skilled trades and common-labor services were eliminated. In fixing the compensation schedules, the law provides for the various services and the grades within those services. The first on the list is the professional and scientific service. The rates of compensation for Grade I in this service range from $1860 to $2400; for Grade 11, $2400 to $3000; Grade 111, $3000 to $3600; Grade IV, $3800 to $5000; Grade V, $5200 to $6000; Grade VI, $6000 to $7500; and for Grade VII, $7500 unless a higher rate is specifically authorized by law. The grades for subprofessional service are eight in number and provide salaries from $900 to $3000. There are fourteen grades for the clerical, administrative, and fiscal service, ranging from $1140 to Grade XIV, which is a special executive grade a t $7500, unless a higher rate is provided by law. The classifying agency will be composed of the director of the Bureau of the Budget or his alternate, a member of the United States Civil Service Commission, and the chief of the Bureau of Efficiency, with the chairmanship of the board resting with the Bureau of the Budget. The essential features of the law are those for which the federal employees had been working, and its passage marks the beginning of a new era for scientific men in the government employ. The records of the service are filled with instances where scientific men have refused outside offers carrying very much higher salaries than those paid by the Government and have remained a t their work out of a sense of loyalty and for the pleasure derived from work well done. The provisions of this law make it possible to pay more adequately for their services, particularly for positions of responsibility. The type of work which should be done in government laboratories is of an importance requiring the best men that can be produced, and they should be paid accordingly.
Popular Books in Science
ASappreciative a part of our effort to have people generally more of the several natural sciences, it is important for us to be prepared to furnish lists of books suitable for collateral reading. We call attention, therefore, to a reading list of popular books in science issued by the American Library Association, Chicago. This list is suitably divided under several special subjects, and is supplied a t twenty cents per copy or ten copies for a dollar, with reduced prices for larger quantities. The Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences, Vol. 12, No. 21, December 19, 1922, prints the revision of the Academy’s list of one hundred popular books in science. Both of these lists should be in the hands of those interested in encouraging familiarity with our science.
Laboratory Purchases S C H O O L laboratories are beginning to consider supplies for another year. Those who have had a little experience with laboratory apparatus and chemicals, as users, as purchasers, and as salesmen have observed that where laboratory men are particular they are careful to know as much as possible regarding the dealer and also the manufacturer from whom they purchase their supplies. They obtain satisfactory service when they definitely state what is desired and the sources from which it must come. In pre-war days, when nearly everything used in the laboratory was imported, there was wide familiarity with trade-marks. It was the habit of the men in the laboratory to specify definitely so that there could be no misunderstanding on the part of those filling the orders. Fortunately, to-day the users of laboratory equipment have many new sources of supply. Unfortunately, these same users have a tendency to forget their long-established precaution and have failed to specify definitely American makers, when in fact they appear to have desired Americanmade wares. American manufacturers seldom serve the laboratory directly, and for many reasons it is better to market through dealers. Several former sources of supplies may be drawn upon and the ultimate consumer must specify apparatus and chemicals made in America if he wants to receive them. Under the present tariff, with the duty-free privilege rescinded, the American manufacturer should be able to compete with the imported article. He is already maintaining a higher quality of product than the majority of foreign producers have made since the war. Reputable manufacturers who heretofore made no effort to obtain laboratory trade are now distinctly interested in laboratory requirements and in providing chemicals which will hold a permanent place on the laboratory shelf. Recently, a laboratory complained about a clamp, and when this was brought to the attention of the dealer he realized that in redesigning the laboratory-blown and volumetric glassware, as well as other important items in his catalog, full attention had not been given to chemicallaboratory hardware. He immediately undertook to redesign his entire line and has already invested more than $2500 in new patterns alone. The buyer to-day, not only can, but should protect himself in several ways. He should know the manufacturer of fundamental apparatus and the items that are of greatest importance to him. These he should specify by trade-mark or name. He should deal with reputable, established dealers. It is then unnecessary for him to know the manufacturer of every one of the many thousands of items in the catalog. I n other buying, the consumer has formed the habit of specifying nationally advertised wares and then depending upon the reputation of the merchant for satisfactory goods. Some laboratories have learned that nothing is gained by making a wide distribution of bidding lists when not more than a dozen dealers can give wholly satisfactory deliveries. The buyer can also promote reasonable standardiaation of apparatus by which the dealer and the manufacturer can obtain quantity production and at the same time lower costs. We would particularly urge the consumer to remember that if he allows price alone to govern his purchases, he has little ground for complaint if he is disappointed in deliveries. Thus,
