The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-02-20

mas been the case; because, IN MI. uasser tweiVe
years. considering the expense OF Tue coast survey
and comparing il with the i've years under Mr..
Bache we find that the duration OF the survey being re-
duced from twelve TO five years the expense Is reduced
work, under appropriation OF fifty per cent more has
been accomplished. | therefore hope, Sir, that this
anne ndment will not prevail and that thus work which
has received the sanction OF scientific men and scientific
societies throughout the Union, will not be now stopped
by this inedsnta ameadmsn to an APPROPRIATION Oil.
men offered by the senator from Missouri (Mr. BENros)
proposes to change the advice Of St. Paul. which tells
to "prove all things, and hold fast that which is
good" Ii proposes to 60 back to an old exploded sys-
TEN, experiment made in 1885, which, after years OF
lost time and millions of lost money. finally aban-
doned II is TO abandon an organization more perfect
than believe, any country has ever before possessed
for such purpose and to return to one, because il
might initiate that OF Great Britain, the mperfectons OF
which stand forth upon every map OF the British island
issued BY the coast survey and one issued recently by
Great Britain and he will find that science and in
elligbiliy stand forth the prominent features of
the one, and confusion in the other-sometmes even,
surveys marked by square lines where the lines of equal
depth are curved and have no relation to the rectan
giles thus presented.
Finance propose that this matter should be investigated
by committee and made the subject OF separate bill.
before and we are ready to decide ii now as at
MT ATHERTON did not mean to say that it should
be made the subject OF separate bill.
Mr., DAVIS. is useful and desirable that the Dues
ton should not only be settled now but that it should be
quoted for all time believe than one half the
valuable labors of that distinguished astronomer, Mr.
Hass!er, lost to science and the country in
quence OF his constant wrangling with Congress to
obtain appropriations. His mind diverted IRON
the pure pursuits OF science and he has in consequence.
left behind him comparatively little of those results
which should have expected from his high reputation
desire, therefore, Mr. President that the Senate will
consider the whole question now, and hope that they
will settle it by such majority was given in the
House last session, where think the vote stood 90 to
SO, after full discussion.
The object of the senator from Missouri in his amend
men is TO give up the whole coast survey to the navy,
and return TO the law OF 1918 Now, sir, if the PROPOSE
ton had been to give up the whole to the army, should
have thought that there was more proprety in 1t The
plan WAS survey OF the Goas s ana
and the idea OF Gaatn who In his letter addressed TO
scientific men of the day. has as clearly deneated a
geodetic survey as language can describe.
MIR. Gallatn proposes-
The ascer,anment, by series OF astronomical obser
yatons of the true position of few remarkable points on
@ uigonometrca survey of the between those
points Of which the position shall have been automatically
nautical survey of the shoa, and soundings of the
coast OF which the uigononiercal survey OF the coast
ITSELF and the asceained position of the light houses and
other distinguishabie objects, would be the basis
Now sir, if the basis of nautical survey is the
gulaon OF the coast then had better refer the work
over to the army than to the navy. il it is to be
hded to department; for they alone competent to
make that geodetcal survey which must be the basis
OF any useful nautical survey If the purpose merely
to make nautical reconnaissance along the coast, and
make nautical charts, we have such now made in
colonial existence But sir, Of what value they
without accurate determinations of latitude and ong
ude-without correct deineations of the coasso that
when the mariner approaches it, he may recognise the
prominent features that tell him with certainty where he
isl 1t adds little either to the benefits OF commerce
the navy ADDS nothing to science positively nothing
So far as followed the senator's argument it was
based upon the idea OF the recurrence former law
and OF producing economy and despatch IN the work
Now. sir as to the former law the act Of 1907 did not
provide for the of the and n all
So far from providing plan to be executed by the army
and navy. as the senator's argument would lead to
suppose, il says nothing about the army and navy 1t
says that the President of the United States shall be- and
is hereby authorized to "proper and intelligent
persons to be employed and also such of the public
sells In actual service as he may judge expedent"
When Mr.. Hassler appointed superintendent for
this work, of his early difficulties that the Off
GERS were not technically speaking, under his orders
and after the work discontinued and revived Mr.
iassler, IN 1882. wrote a letter which contained the
clause that the superintendent of the survey the
actual observations in the field; that he should give
orders and instructions to the officers of parties. and thus
to guard against such condition of things had led his
former difficulty was to give him authority and to void
being reduced to the head OF bureau instead of having an
opportunity in the field to illustrate the science which he
believed himself 10 possess 1t was his ambition to be in the
field that of the present superintendent He did
wish as mere bureau officer as head of the department,
to receive the reports OF parties in the field He wished
to make astronomical observations and to connect him.
self with the tranguaton of the and these were
not the terms imposed upon, but those sought by Mr.
Hassler as man of science. Has il been changed
Have there been any variations from the duties assigned
TO the superintendent? Ii So have they not been
santly increasing his field duties
In the year 1882, when the system of 1907 revived
we find distinct provision for the employment OF officers of
the army and navy The President authorized to employ
all persons in the land AMI naval service for the survey
OF the coast and such astronomers and other
he shall deem proper. Now the navy was specifically
connected by law with the survey during Mr.. Spcncers
administration of the Treasury Department: organza
ton adopted giving the superintendent these powers
this constitute bureau II so, it bureau of Mr.
Hasslers. But, MIR. President, can that be a bureau
which is mere temporary employment! This is mere
temporary employment without fixed salary, and with
out commission of Office. The whole ground on which
Mr. Hassler claimed right to continue in employment
uted contract. 1t was not bureau then it is not
bureau nop: II was an office then, to which reports
were made Tor examination and results sent for cOmputa
ton It 10 the same now, and in the building,
MIR. Hasslers time What change. them has been made
in the organization
SAID, Mr. President, that the duties discharged were
OF the same character; but they have become
months Of the year in the field, engaged in astronomical
observations III trangulaton magnetic observations,
IN measurement OF bases upon which r inguations rest
Last year he was in North Carolina, Maryland, and
New Hampshire, and the year before he in Massa-
chusetts Name Mississippi, Louisiana, and Alabama
the Union. Last summer he took the field long before the
adjournment of Congress- and returned after Congress
had reassembled He left, believe, the month of April
and returned after the commencement of the present
session OF Congress- Mr. Hassler made but prelim
mary and one actual base of operations. Now, are
operating upon four distinct measured bases The old
plan might have been conducted with astronomer for
IN an ~ uJpI uorth ind