Viewing page 370 of 488

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

[[preprinted]]
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION  781 
[[/preprinted]]

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON FREER WILL

Mr. Hughes, Chairman, stated that the committee had met and considered the matter informally. He could report progress and hoped later to present to the Board a concrete report with recommendations. 

REPORT OF SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON ENDOWMENT INCREASE

Mr. Delano said he had no further special report at this time.

ACTIONS ON MATTERS IN SPECIAL REPORT OF THE SECRETARY.

[[underlined]] Insecticide Patent [[/underlined]]

Adverting to the matter of the Insecticide Patent presented to the Institution, the Secretary went on to say:-

[[underlined]] A [[/underlined]] On September 27, 1928, the inventors, Messrs. E.H.Siegler and C.H. Popenoe, with the approval of the Department of Agriculture, of which they are employees, assigned to the Smithsonian Institution all right title and interest in their patent No. 1,589,866, for valuable insecticide, issued Nov. 17, 1924.

[[underlined]] B [[/underlined]] The insecticide consists of an emulsion containing fatty acids, preferably lauric acid. It is made up by the pound in a concentrated state from cocoanut products and others. It is then diluted with water approximately 800 to 1, and is effective as against insects and fungi of many varieties. It acts as as a spreader for other insecticides, imparts additional insecticidal and fungicidal values of its own, and imparts toxicity to miscible oil emulsions sometimes employed as insecticides.

[[underlined]] C [[/underlined]] This patent, which represented outside work by the inventors, had been taken out by the inventors at their own expense, with the understanding from the Secretary of Agriculture, that they would be permitted to give licenses under it to their financial advantage.

[[underlined]] D [[/underlined]] The inventors actually negotiated an agreement with a chemical company to give exclusive license under which they were given by contract a certain minimum royalty and the probability of additional returns. At that point the policy of the Department was changed and they were prevented from consummating the arrangement.

[[underlined]] E [[/underlined]] The Department then considered requiring the inventors to dedicate the patent to the public but eventually concluded that the public interest would not be best served thereby. At the suggestion of Dr. Cottrell, Director of the Nitrogen Fixation Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture, the patent, with the approval of the Secretary of Agriculture, was assigned to the Smithsonian Institution, because the Smithsonian Institution, while a privately endowed institution, is concerned to promote the public interest, and besides uses its income for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men.

[[initialed]] CGA [[/initialed]]