The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1842-12-18
BY THE SOUTHERN MAIL
WaohlnRtOn.
Correspondence OF the Herald.l
WASHINGTON, Friday, Dec. 10. l81

The Senate has adjourned over until Monday
In the House, lnothing of importance was done to-
day, except to proceed, in Committee of the Whole,
with the consideration of the Appropriation Bill
The whole OF it was passed without much dissent,
until the Cerk'came,to thatpart of the miscellaneous
items relating to the Coast Survey, and the appro-
praion of $50 OO0for it for six months labor. When
this item was read, Mr.. AYcRIee, of New Jersey,
moved -sIikeoutths appropriation, on the ground
that Mr. Hassler, the aged superintendent of the
Survey, was mentally and physically incapable of
carrying on the work. Mr.. MALLORY, of Va took
the same ground
Mr.. WISE, in brief but energetic and eloquent
speech, defended old Mr. Hasser, and denied the
assertion There had been slight error in affixng
scale to chart, which Lieut. Gedney said that he
had committed himself
Mr. AYcRIGG said, that Mr. Hassler also admitted
ne had made 400 errors in 200 pages of one work.
Mr. WlsE-Then, sir, he's the very man that I'd
trust oetore all others-(Rears of laughter)-if he
acknowledged to 400 errors in 200 pages, it shows
him to be man of candor and sincerity. and
worthy OF trust. (Great laughter) Yes. sir and it
also shows that he has talent and skill TO detect
even his own errors. daughter and cheers.) And
that's great thing, Sir, in these degenerate DAYS.
daughter and cries of 'hear'O wish thai some
members of Congress would initiate his example
Uaughter) We, sir, commit as many errors as
most people, (laughter) but, sir, we either want
the sincerity the talent to detect those errors,
(Shous of laughter.l Why, the old business of
science Is the correction of errors (Hear hearN
MIR. Hasler has surveyed nearly the whole coast.
from Long Island to the north of the Chesapeake
Bay, and 1t would be cruel and unjust TO dismiss SO
old and faithful a servant He is one of the best
mathemacians in the country. He could tea CHI
all the members OF that committee, SIR GREAT
aughter) although the gentleman from Mas sachu-
sets (Cushing) is one of the most learne and
sounded like cheers) Mr.. Hassler can't speak the
English language very plainly, sir, but he can speak
his mind about as plainly as any man ever knew
bluntness.. Why, sir, had to act as peace maker
between the old man and my honorable colleague
Mallory in the committee: (Great laughter)
To be sure he is odd Qaughter) but every man
''That's the case with you, Wise.") To see that
old man in the committee, with his old instrum
coat that would wrap three times round him,
OaughteD his eyes like two parched peas (roars
of aughter) but scintillating like the diamond.
(Shouts OF laughter)
MIR BIDLACK rose to order. II was out of order to
name what took place in committee land particularly
so TO describe mans personal appearance. (Shouts
OF hearty laughter all over the HOuse.)
Mr. HOLMES, OF s G., In very, brief but forcible
there collision of intellect between him and the
members of the committee, the gentlemen were al
ways put down. (Great laughter, and "that's true"
from Wise) They couldn't grapple with him, sir,
Daughter and cheers,) although they are men Of
talent, and the gentleman from Massachusetts,
(Cushng,) is but little inferior in mathematical and
scientific talent to Mr. Hassler. Here Mr.. Gushing
blushed deeply and drank half glass ofwater, amid
the cheers and applause of the members)
MIR. CUSHING rose, when several members cried
out 'Take the hour, Gushing, and give us the whole
story; you know how to do it /"
Mr. CUSHING spoke till the hour OF adjournment
and made most eloquent statement of the whole
subject. He had to go into great many explana.
tons that were necessary for the House, but for
your readers as to the movements of the committee
can condense into few lines the substance of his
most admirable speech. He said that the COM
miltee (of which he was one) met day after day
and month after month last session, and sat late
at night to examine the whole of this most
important subject fully; they went through the
administrative portion of it, but had not time to go
through the scientific part Of the question They
had proposed to continue the Committee through
The present session, and examine all the leading sci
entifc men in the country thereon. The good of
the whole country demanded 1t. and he was willing
and DESTROYS to devote his whole energies to it, as
he had done. Clear, hear) They had examined
Lieut.. Gedney, Mr.. Hassler, Messrs. Blake, Blunt
and Swift. 1t was task OF great delicacy for one
who had left the halls OF Academus tor long time,
and taken an active part in this conflict of all the
selfish and all the ferOcious passions of nature
which were brought out In the political struggles of
the day, to undertake this enquiry among men of
for one placed where have been for some time rs
it were in gale of wind at all the time. l,ond
applause and roars of laughter and cries of 'good,
Cushing good ~ Ii is true that Ionce cd cb roc
in Harvard College of the department, of maizena,.
tics and the exact sciences
WIsE-You didn't get to be an old mathemati
clan, Gushing, or you'd beel an odd one (Roars
CusHINe.-Well, am even charged with that
Qaugher,) but if am to have the censure, hope to
be awarded the possession of the amabilty (Cheers)
feel It important to the country that this great
scientific work should 60 on to BITS completion.
(Hear.) 1t Is an honorable exception to our usual
course OF legislation. (Hear) An honor to the
country and OF immense value: The. appropri-
alton ought to be made, if Mr. Hassler is to be
removed. (Cries of che can't be got nd of in any
other way.") Whether trianguation be the excl,i-
sive good method, or the of the chronometer as
an auxiliary,l shall not now says but let the work 60
on. Still there are great defects IN this department
The Coast Survey was ordered by an act of Con-
gress, convened in 1907, and 100000 a year has
been devoted to It, II is great Bureau, and more
complicated In It's management and details than any
of the other great governmental departments Mr.
Hassler* is the sole head and superintendent of it.
He has the disposal of more money than the head
of appointing more officers than other head of a
Bureau, and also OF liking their salary. (He APP
points long two column list of officers) There is
no control over him but Congress, and that Depart
have great scientific skill, admit !; but he has
administrative talent; and when he has been ask
ed for information or statements BY Presidents or
invariably buffed off every body (hear) BY his terri
Bile infirmity of temper. Clear. hear.) He ought
to have published these charts of the coast survey
years and years ago. clear, hear) Numerous
have been the complaints about this shameful delay,
but they could not be dragged from him. (Hear)
The result of that survey has Land buried in the
chives of the department wholly useless TO CONNER
cal interests (Cheers, and hear hear ~ want
ed these results extorted from Mr.. Hasser years
ago, and have worked hard to get them and am
happy TO say they will all be published in month or
six weeks. (Cheers and hear) The two works of
survey, and publication should progress simultane-
ousIy (Hear) The survey discovered sunken
and conce aed shoal in Long Island Sound, which
might have caused the destruction of millions of pro-
uery and yet the fact was buried in this bureau as
great cabinet secret; (roars of lauehter) because
forsooth Mr.. Hasser willed il So and was ie aous nj