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SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 793
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MADE BY BAKER-VAWTER CO.
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whole problem of future financial support of the Smithsonian.

With all good wishes, I am.

Very truly yours,
(Signed) John C. Merriam.

A very full discussion ensued, in which Senator Swanson suggested that it might be better to dedicate the patent freely to all the people, relieving the Smithsonian of any connection with the transaction, and stated his belief that Congress should support the Smithsonian adequately independently of such financial resources is this. It was pointed out that this course had at one time been considered by the Department Of Agriculture in relation to this very patent, but that it was feared that the public would never receive the benefits of the invention unless some interested and responsible organization should first develop the commercial applications. This consideration had induced that Department to consent to the assignment of the patent by the inventors to the Smithsonian, which was known to have the interest of the public at heart, and was understood to have a channel of development in its relations with Research Corporation.

On the motion of the Vice President, a vote was taken on the approval of the Board of the contract as now drawn, the majority voting in favor, Senator Swanson alone registering his vote in the negative. The Chancellor declared the motion carried in the contract approved.

The draft of contract submitted was as follows:

MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT made this [[blank line]] day of 1929, by and between the SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION of Washington, D. C.,party of the first part, hereinafter referred to as "Smithsonian" and RESEARCH CORPORATION, party of the second part, hereinafter referred to as "Research".

WITNESSETH:

WHEREAS the Smithsonian owns U. S. Letters Patent No. 1,589,866, covering a new insecticide and is desirous of entering into an agreement with Research, first, for the investigation of the validity and strength of the said Letters Patent, the toxic and technical value of the insecticide covered by said patents, and the commercial possibilities of said insecticide; and, second, the introduction of said insecticide into commercial use if Research deems it advisable to commercially introduce the same.

WHEREAS Research is a corporation under the laws of the State of New York, organized to conduct commercial operations under or in connection with the development of inventions and patent rights and to provide means for the advancement and extension of technical and
[[initialed]] CGA [[/initialed]]