TO GREENER PASTURES

Harvard has learned by the New York Times that her Bureau of Traffic Research is migrating to Yale. University officials have been completely taken by surprise, for they were not admitted to the secret before the general public. The circumstances immediately call to mind the case of Professor Baker's "47 Workshop," and arouse dark thoughts and suspicions of another New Haven "grab." But consideration will show these to do utterly baseless.

The Traffic Research Bureau has no close financial connections with the University. Its support comes almost entirely from the American Automobile Manufacturers' Association and the individual motor car companies, which pay the operational expenses and contribute the fellowships for study under the Bureau. At the most, Harvard furnishes a few facilities. Hence, the Bureau has no restraining obligations here, is perfectly free to leave whenever it so desires. Any debt which it owes to Harvard for publicity has been amply repaid in kind.

Most important consideration of all is that an organization like the Traffic Research Bureau which is directly concerned with the public welfare should function as efficiently as possible. If Yale and New Haven can offer more adequate facilities, and the migration indicates that they can, this object is better attained. Undoubtedly, one important gain is closer proximity to New York City, where several of the Bureau's directors do much of their work, and the newspapers of which have greater publicity value than do Boston's Regrets there must certainly be in Harvard, but mutterings of foul play or infidelity on the part of the Bureau are definitely out of order.