Mr. MURDOCK. It is the lowest figure since the beginning of the Board. Soon after we began, in 1925, they piled up to more than 5,000. This is the lowest figure we have ever had since then, and it looks as though in the next 12 months it will begin to go down, unless we get an influx from the broader tax base and increased taxation. Of course, it is a matter we cannot anticipate, but you are all familiar, I assume, with a certain lag before we get these cases. They first go to the Bureau, then, when they complete their field investigation, they finally get around to us and we have a case. It takes 2 or 3 years. Now, for example, our cases are running for the years 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, and 1939.

REGIONAL HEARINGS

Mr. HOUSTON. And have you not found it expedites matters a great deal to have regional hearings?

Mr. MURDOCK. Oh, yes; we always had regional hearings. The Bureau of Internal Revenue was decentralized some time ago, and a great deal of publicity was given to that fact; but, as a matter of fact, so far as the Board is concerned, it did not make any difference from our hearing standpoint, because we had always been holding hearings outside of Washington. When we came down in the building where we are now, we had a very substantial number of hearing rooms, but we have not had a heavy use for those rooms for a long time, and have been going out all over the country holding hearings and had been doing it long before the Bureau was decentralized. Mr. HOUSTON. I think it is good for the public it serves. Mr. MURDOCK. Surely it is.

Mr. HOUSTON. I think there should be more decentralization of the Government out in the field, rather than centralization here in Washington.

Mr. MURDOCK. We believe so, too.

SALARY PROMOTIONS

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Mr. Murdock, you apparently are asking for an increase of $28,000, according to our work sheet here; $12,900 of that is accounted for by three positions you are requesting, and $3,400 by an increase under "Other obligations."

Mr. WOODRUM. And $8,000 by salary promotions.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. You have an item here for within-grade promotions of $8,037 for the fiscal year 1943, and I assume the item set out for 1942, $4,400, was not expended for that purpose. Is that right?

Mr. TRACY. We have not gotten that money yet.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. You have not gotten that money yet?

Mr. TRACY. No, sir.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. So that there is an apparent increase of $8,000 in that item?

Mr. TRACY. That is right.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. What is the other?

Mr. WOODRUM. There are some other little items down under "Other obligations;" for instance, travel, $2,000.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. The total seems to be a difference only of $3,400. When you revise your remarks, would you itemize that? Mr. MURDOCK. Yes, sir.

Mr. TRACY. I think that this break-down will explain the estimate of $28,037 for salaries and expenses, over the appropriation for 1942. The sum of $8,037 represents the additional amounts needed for administrative promotions under the recently enacted Uniform Promotion Act. That leaves $20,000 to be accounted for, as follows:

It will be noted that the total increase in salaries ($16,636), includes the three new positions requested; one in CAF-14 and two in P-3. On an annual basis, that will account for $12,900. The difference ($3,736) arises principally through the increase in grade P-3, made necessary by the dropping of all of the grade P-1 positions.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1941.

CANAL ZONE BIOLOGICAL AREA

STATEMENTS OF DR. FRANK B. JEWETT, CHAIRMAN, AND PAUL BROCKETT, CLERK

EXPENSES OF ADMINISTRATION, CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF LABORATORY, AND OTHER FACILITIES

Mr. WOODRUM. We will take up now the appropriation for the Canal Zone Biological Area:

For expenses of administration and for the construction and maintenance of laboratory and other facilities on Barro Colorado Island, Canal Zone, under the provisions of the Act approved July 2, 1940, without reference to section 3709 of the Revised Statutes and civil service requirements, $10,000.

JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE

Dr. JEWETT. The following justification is offered for the record:

The Canal Zone Biological Area was established by act of Congress (Public) No. 711, 76th Cong.), approved July 2, 1940. The act authorized the setting aside, within the Canal Zone, of an area to conserve and preserve its natural features, including existing flora and fauna, in as nearly a natural condition as possible, thus providing a place where duly qualified students can make observations and scientific investigations for increase of knowledge.

The inception of this laboratory in the early twenties was the direct result of a need by the biologists of the United States for a tropical scientific research station and wildlife refuge under the American flag. The island formed in Gatun Lake by the gradual rising of waters covering the lowlands, rich in tropical forests, full of insects of great variety and interest, including fruit flies and termites, and many reptiles and amphibians as yet little known, was ideal for the purpose. Many specimens of birds and mammals were unique. The men who conceived the idea of establishing the station on this island contributed largely from their private resources for the support of the project, as did many of their friends. Owing to reduced incomes and the death of a number of early contributors, it was later found impossible to obtain financial support for the station. Even with the contributions and rental of laboratory tables and equipment, it appeared to be impossible for the station to continue unless numerous repairs and replacements could be made. The permanency of the station was accomplished, however, through the action of Congress in establishing the Canal Zone Biological Area.

An important feature in the use of the Canal Zone Biological Area as a biological laboratory under auspices of the United States is the international aspect. For a number of years students from Central and South America have availed themselves of the opportunities presented by the laboratory to obtain instruction. With the establishment of the board of directors assuring the permanency of the laboratory, this aspect assumes extreme importance.

The annual appropriation of $10,000 authorized in the act will hardly be adequate for a number of years to do more than repair and replace the equipment and structures on the island. Tropical conditions are hard on buildings and equipment, and both deteriorate rapidly. It is necessary now to construct some additional buildings and to repair others; to replace worn-out furnishings; and to replace the wharves which are in a dangerous condition. Rehabilitation, which has to be carried on as the natural conditions at the island will allow, will require at least 3 years, it is estimated.

Referring to the present support of the laboratory, funds this past year have come from institutions which annually subscribe $300 each for the use of tables at the laboratory by the students of biology whom they send for study. Only seven subscriptions were made this year-six at $300 and one at $500-totaling $2,300. The subscription of $500, received from the Eastman Kodak Co., is for a study of the corrosion of optical and photographic materials and the effects of high humidity on photographic films.

The administrative office is fearful that it may be necessary to close the laboratory because of lack of financial support, as the amount of cash available to operate through this season is only about $1,500. While it was expected that the permanent status given the laboratory by the act of Congress might induce interested persons and institutions to contribute freely to its support, the Canal Zone Biological Area has come into existence during a period of low interest rates and high taxes, and former contributors are finding it increasingly difficult to continue their support. In fact, two former table subscribers have found it necessary to discontinue their subscriptions. This situation makes necessary an urgent appeal to Congress to appropriate the $10,000 authorized in the organic act to be made annually. If the appropriation is not made it may be necessary, as already mentioned, to close the laboratory, thereby losing the services of those trained in the work, losing the benefits of future progress reports, and terminating important and valuable investigations which have progressed for a number of years. Closing of the laboratory would put an end to the termite investigations of the Department of Agriculture and the Forest Products Laboratory, the results of which are now playing an important part in many construction projects, saving money by prolonging the life of the structures. Work on the solution of dry rot and other fungi problems would cease, as would the work on such defense projects as the testing of a large variety of new insulations for wire currently being carried on for the Panama Canal authorities.

PURPOSE AND HISTORY OF UNDERTAKING

Mr. WOODRUM. Now, Doctor, suppose you tell us about this, briefly.

Dr. JEWETT. It did not seem to me necessary to do what we did last year. The purpose of this Canal Zone Biological Area which

the Congress set up, in its scientific work, was fully covered in the hearings which were held when it was set up, and the hearing here last year on the appropriation, and before the Senate committee.

It is a small item; it is essentially a business proposition, and it did not seem to me necessary to burden your time with a great deal of detail.

Mr. WOODRUM. Suppose you go ahead in your own way and say whatever you would like to say to us on this.

Dr. JEWETT. Yes, sir. I will review very briefly, so as to have a common background, the history of this undertaking.

It was initiated some 20 years ago by private individuals and institutions who found in this so-called Barro Colorado Island, in Gatun Lake, a virgin tropical area which was close to transportation, and close to facilities, and what not, in which fundamental work in the biological field, under tropical conditions, could easily be carried on. I had nothing to do with this. I am not a biologist; I am not even a fundamental scientist; so I am just speaking from the record. Over a period of 20 years, the work down there was supported through private contributions of one sort or another, mostly from individuals.

Some questions were raised, either in this committee or in the corresponding hearing over in the Senate, as to the amount of money that had been contributed in the past and the directors have had that looked into as best we can from the records, and it would appear that something like $64,000 or $65,000 over the years has been contributed by individuals, mostly, and a few institutions such as the Carnegie Corporation, toward the physical plant which is on that island. Mr. WOODRUM. Of what does that consist?

Dr. JEWETT. As I understand it, it consists of some buildings, docks both on the island and across from it. You have to get there by a launch. There are docks on the island and docks on the mainland opposite, and there are transportation facilities like motorboats, some of which have been donated as boats, or donated as funds with which to buy boats.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Is the launch that runs over there owned by individuals?

Dr. JEWETT. Those, as I understand it, are owned or were owned by a group that was operating this place down there. Largely it was sponsored by Professor Barbour, of Harvard, and he would not say if he were here, but I can say it, that he personally has been a very large contributor out of his slender means toward the support of this work. All that, of course, became the property of the Government when the Government decided to establish this thing as a permanent monument, as a permanent place to work.

Mr. WOODRUM. Would you tell us again, just in a little more detail, where this is situated?

Dr. JEWETT. As I understand it-I have never been there myselfthis was a promontory in the Andean Range, with a sort of low saddleback connecting it with the main mountain range. It became an island when Gatun Lake was formed and there are isolated in that island some seven or eight thousand acres of virgin forest and all of the bacteria and animal life of that tropical region. In other words, it became an isolated place in the center of Gatun Lake and you had there the whole flora and fauna of that tropical region separate from

the mainland and, through the assistance of the War Department there, it was maintained in the virgin state. It is an ideal place in which to conduct scientific work.

Mr. WOODRUM. It is a natural laboratory?

Dr. JEWETT. It is a natural laboratory within easy striking distance of the scientists of this country, and in very close range to the physical and medical services, if you need them. It is something which could not be duplicated, if you went up the Amazon, without spending huge sums of money for the scientists to protect themselves.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Were not there some natives living there?

Dr. JEWETT. My recollection is from the records and from what has been told me by the biologists who have been there: that when the area became an island there was the beginning of a small banana plantation there, where they had cleared a certain amount of land, few hundred acres around that banana plantation. But all that was stopped, and that particular piece of cleared land, which was allowed to revert to jungle in its natural way, has proven to be, so the scientific people tell me, a very fertile field of information as to how nature takes command again of a situation in which man has done some sort of destructive act in unbalancing a virgin place.

AMOUNT OF CONTRIBUTIONS MADE TOWARD WORK

Mr. FITZPATRICK. Did you get $8,000 last year?

Dr. JEWETT. We got nothing.

Mr. WOODRUM. That is trust funds, private contributions.

Mr. FITZPATRICK. You had nothing from the Federal Government last year?

Dr. JEWETT. No, sir.

Mr. HOUSTON. You asked for $10,000 last year, as I recall, to repair the docks?

Dr. JEWETT. That is right.

Mr. WOODRUM. What is this to be used for?

Dr. JEWETT. May I just add one more word?

Mr. WOODRUM. Yes.

Dr. JEWETT. The records indicate that over the years the average money outside of this $64,000 of capital money has been about $7,000, which includes the lush years of the twenties and the lean years of the present time.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. Did not you tell us you got $65,000 over a period of 20 years?

Dr. JEWETT. That is the best estimate we can make about $65,000 went into these capital expenditures; that is, buildings, wharves, and these boats.

Mr. WIGGLESWORTH. That is an average of $3,000 plus per year. Dr. JEWETT. Of course it did not come that way. I mean it came largely in lump sums, at the early stages of the thing. I tried to break it down into two parts; one, the amount of money contributed by individuals, private sources, for capital outlay for buildings where people live and do their work; the other, the amount of money received for operations.

Mr. HENDRICKS. What did you say they contributed the $65,000 for?