THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, Hon. WESTON E. VIVIAN, Congress of the United States, DEAR WES: Thank you for your letters of June 28 and 30, informing me about the hearings on the bill H.R. 15638, which is to provide authorization to the Department of Commerce to collect and make available technical reference data. I found myself not well informed on this subject and I am discussing it with a number of members of our faculty. I gather that the bill has become controversial, even though the desirability of having standard reference data readily available is surely not questioned. In the past, as you know, professional societies have often assumed leadership in providing this service to scientists and engineers. I am sure that I should not ask for an opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee, even if arrangements are made for additional hearings. But if it appears that there is some unanimity in what might be considered a position appropriate to University scientists, I will prepare a statement for the record. I appreciate your interest in bringing this matter to my attention and to the attention of others in the University and Ann Arbor community. Yours sincerely, A. G. NORMAN, Vice-President for Research. 167 RICE UNIVERSITY, Houston, Tex., July 12, 1966. Congressman EMILIO Q. DADDARIO, DEAR CONGRESSMAN DADDARIO: I am sorry that your letter of June 20 came just as I was leaving for England for a trip on behalf, in part, of the President's Science Advisory Committee. I did not return in time to get a letter in your hands before the July 8 deadline which you specified. I believe that the collection, compilation, critical evaluation and publication of standard reference data is a very important function, and one in which the National Bureau of Standards should play a very important role. I hope that my failure to present these remarks to you within the time period indicated will not have jeopardized legislation giving appropriate support for this function. If I can be of any further assistance to you in this connection, please do not hesitate to call on me. Yours very sincerely, 168 KENNETH S. PITZER, President. Hon. EMILIO Q. DADDARIO, NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS, Chairman, Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development, Committee on Science and Astronautics, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: In accordance with Mr. Miller's letter of July 1st, we are pleased to submit for the record the enclosed statement expressing the views of the National Society of Professional Engineers on H.R. 15638, a bill to provide for the collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication, and sale of standard reference data. This statement has been prepared after careful analysis of this legislation by our Legislative and Government Affairs Committee, chaired by Donald E. Marlowe, P.E., Dean of the School of Engineering and Architecture at Catholic University. We feel fortunate indeed in having had Dean Marlowe's counsel and guidance in this matter, particularly in view of his outstanding record of experience and achievement in both academic and government circles. Sincerely yours, PAUL H. ROBBINS, P.E., Executive Director. STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS ON H.R. 15638 The National Society of Professional Engineers appreciates the opportunity to submit a statement for the record on H.R. 15638, a bill to provide for the collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication, and sale of standard reference data by the Department of Commerce. We support the concept of a National Standard Reference Data System, and understand that such a system has been established in the National Bureau of Standards since 1963. If, however, after its study of this subject the subcommittee feels that separate legislation authorizing the establishment of this service is required, we heartily endorse enactment of such legislation. Several aspects of H.R. 15638 do trouble us : 1. We feel that the concept embodied in Sections 6 and 7 of the bill is undesirable. The adoption of a Standard Reference Data symbol by the federal government, and its use as an imprimateur, seems contrary to scientific tradition. The acceptability of technical data depends upon the reputation of the compiler in the technological world, not upon a Government Seal. Activity in this area cannot be equated with grading meat. 2. Traditionally, the cost of obtaining technical data and evaluating it has been kept separate from the cost of publishing it, resulting in the availability of data at relatively low cost. The social gain obtainable from wide dissemination of critical data (standard data) is felt to be sufficient to sustain this principal of operation. The concept of Section 5 of H.R. 15638, which would have "user charges" reflect the total costs of the program, seems undesirable. 3. We have had in this country a long-standing policy of refusing to copyright government publications. The basic principle underlying this policy was reflected quite recently in the "Freedom of Information" bill enacted by the Congress. If, as indicated in Dr. Astin's testimony before the subcommittee, estimated sales under the proposed SRD "copyright" system will only cover a "not large" portion of the costs, such returns do not seem sufficient to justify violation of this long-standing policy. 4. Adoption of government "copyrighting" as contemplated in H.R. 15638 would involve the same thorny questions of dry-copying, computer printout, television transmission, etc., which are now being considered by the Congress in the proposed revision of the Copyright Act. No such government copyrighting should be initiated until these issues are settled. In summary, we support any legislative action deemed necessary by the subcommittee to authorize establishment of a National Standard Reference Data System, but feel that those aspects of H.R. 15638 relating to adoption and use of the proposed "Government Seal" are undesirable. Respectfully submitted. DONALD E. MARLOWE, P.E., Chairman, Lelislative and Government Affairs Committee. Hon. EMILIO Q. DADDARIO, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, Representative from Connecticut, Chairman, Subcommittee on Science, Research and Development, House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: This is in reply to your letter of June 20, 1966, relative to H.R. 15638, an Administration bill to provide for the collection, critical evaluation publication, and sale of standard reference data. The evaluation of data so as to provide to scientists and engineers the most reliable possible information is a function second only in importance to the performance of research. The vast amount of scientific information now appearing in scientific and technical journals can be understood and assessed by very few people. Experts capable of doing this type of work must be provided with continuing support since theirs is a work of real devotion for which they will never receive much public acclaim. As scientific data accumulate the value to society of the theoretician who understands the use of modern computers will greatly increase. Since the theoretician is by very nature a person who plays the role of correlator and of innovator rather than of data provider, he must be furnished with data predigested and assessed so that he will not waste more than the minimum necessary time to find the facts so necessary for his work. The first class theoretician is the very rarest kind of scientist and we must do everything we can to provide him with all the help he can profitably use. For these various reasons I strongly believe that H.R. 15638 deserves the support of the scientific community. I have read the bill carefully and on the whole agree with its provisions. Section 7(b) (page 4 line 14) worries me a little. Modern copying devices have come into such general use that many scientists violate the letter if not the spirit of the copyright law. The making of a lantern slide for a public lecture from copyrighted material is, for example, a violation of the law. If Standard Reference Data are to be sold at a price which will cover the cost of compilation, the compilations which are sold will go mainly to libraries rather than to individuals. The copyright laws badly need either revision or reinterpretation but I am sure that your subcommittee would wish Standard Reference Data to be of the widest possible use to scientists. Certainly copying for sale or in such a way as seriously to reduce sales must be prevented but Section 7(b) might mean that a university library could not, for example, make a Xerox copy of a single page for use by a professor or graduate student. I realize that present laws are interpreted to permit such practices but it might be better not to make apparent law breakers out of too many people. With, perhaps, some attention to this one point I am happy to give very strong support to H.R. 15638. Very truly yours, W. ALBERT NOYES, Jr., Ashbel Smith Professor of Chemistry. |