The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1852-06-01

year ending June 80, lsoO
"For caleuatng printing, aud publishing the Nautical
Almanac including pay Of tue superintendent OF the
$4,000"
The next year, sir. in the appropriation bill OF 1885,
for the same purpose-hat is for preparing the Nautical
Aimanac-there appropriation made OF Sl2, $50
and in the next year there was appropriation OF
$1,000; so that we have already appropriated for the
purpose OF preparing The Nautical Almanac The OF
S35250 And by The bill laid upon our tables reported
from the other House, is proposed TO appropriate
the further sum OF $4,000 making in all $57.650 #
this bill passes that we shall have appropriated for pre-
pairing the Nautical Almanac
resolution was laid upon your table the other day
drawn up at my instance which has not been answered
but think am not mistaken when state that all these
expenses are not incurred at National Observatory,
but al the observatory Cambridge College in Mas
sachuseits Now, we have corps OF officers at the
National to- hs very o h DOM 1
with their several salaries
one lieutenant
professors at 81 500 lO5OO
Eight passed mdshipmen at $3.50. 5000
Making salaries which National Observatory 81 500
Ia addition TO that have appropriated for the pur
chase and repair OF instruments annually at the National
Observatory, for the last three years. $0500 and for
purchasing books maps, and charts, SO ooO-making in
all more than $4,000 that have paid for the support
OF scientific corps at the National Observatory; and.
notwithstanding this. the very first moment you want TO
obtain any practical information from them-the very
first moment you call for information with regard TO the
Nautical Amanac-instead Of sending up to your seven
professors of mathematics with salary oil 500 year,
II you want Nautical Almanac calculated at all, you
detail another officer; and instead OF using your OBJ
servaory, where your officers supposed TO be well
versed in matters OF science and where you annually
spend more than $4,000 in purchasing mathematical in
strumens, and IS 900 for books, maps and charsin
stead oil sending there you have TO send OH 10 Cambridge
College, and appropriate $4,000 year there
Now, sir, what is your National Observatory for /!
What are your professors of mathematics kept
there fori Cannot they calculate the ecpses. show the
positions OF the stars and make all these calculations
cessay in the preparation OF the Nautical Almanac In
Heavens tell for what possible purpose you
about to appropriate This $9,oOO What are all Of your
professors OF mathematics about and why is this vast
outlay for books, instruments &c. il the very first moment
you want something practical and useful done you pass
by hemleave your nine ieutenans, your eight passed
mdshpmen, and your seven professors OF mathematics,
and send oil to Cambridge in order TO have the eclpses
calculated and your Nautical Almanac made believe
il is all wrong-totay wrong. The whole thing ought
to be abandoned and when the appropriation of 3d.
900 comes In The general appropriation BILL shall move
TO strike it out and shall wish 10 have the OF the
Senate upon it.
But while is there, ask you the proprety of incur
ring this great expense IN consequence OF employing tins
have great number Of officers, euenants, midshp
men, professors OF mathematics, and superintendent at
our own Observatory and we have been spending for
years SIC, 900 year for mathematical instruments
Tor these reasons that hope the provso will not be
adopted.
sion upon this subject find that the from New
Hampshire [Mr. HALEl has absolute and unappeas-
able hostility against any connexion OF science with the
casion observe before he never fails at proper and
improper times in season and out of season, whenever
he can, TO assai that department in all its branches
save one Now, sir, think the only question which is
before the Senate at this time is this proposition, TO
striking out the provso which puts the superintendent OF
The Nautical Almanac upon the same footing with Ie-
iona Observatory. We had better wait until get the
large amount OF information that the senator MIR HALEl
has called for. and which will take some litile time TO
prepare in the departments, before proceed 10 deter
mine that this appropriation is out OF place. and decide
that it shall be stricken out Of the bill. When the gen
eral appropriation bill comes up, and when have all
this Information before ia, il The gentleman wishes 10
make upon the whole system, he can do so; and il
he satisfy the Senale that is either extravagant or
useless, OF course the Senate will vote il down In the
time, and in the anticipation of it, hope the Sen
ate will not vote 10 put this highly meroous and scen
tfc officer upon worse footing than those whom we
designate 10 act in the same capacity.
Mr.. DAVIS. had supposed this whole matter TO be
by law entirely under the direction oil the Secretary Of
the Navy suppose that If the observations are made
the observatory at Cambridge, there is good reason
for it The observatory there, sir, is supplied with a
great variety OF instruments, many OF which are OF
very superior character not well enough informed
upon this subject TO undertake 10 say that such IS The
but will assume that there is necessity for going
there provided the parties carry on their observations at
that place.
Almanac Ii is 10 be work put in competition with
other works OF this description which made By other
governments 1t is TO be work purely scientific in its
character IL is work that IS 10 commend itself TO
If il is useful at ALL for its great accuracyand great
curacy in matters OF very delicate and careful inquiry
In the first place. il this gentleman who has the superin
endence OF II is competent TO discharge the service the
salary OF three thousand dollars year by means
excessive for the performance OF that service IL re-
qures ordinary degree OF talent and learning per-
form that work; and assume, in the vote give here,
that he is competent, TO The task, he would be
ployed in it. believe sir, that most gentlemen who
have spoken upon this subject consider him AT any
rate, cannot consider him otherwise until some
evidence OF H.
confess, Mr. President, that the work has cost more
than anticipated when we entered upon IT, But lis
usefulness out OF its accuracy and nobody knows
better than The senator from New Jersey, Mr. STocK-
TON on the other side OF the chamber that work OF
employed extensively by foreign seamen, and highly
important 10 navgators Of our country From these
sir have sustained the work hitherto,
and propose 10 sustain II until evidence
of the abuses which spoken Of although II may cost
more than anticipate believe il to be the duty OF the
Senate 10 go on with it, that has been begun until
il is brought 10 completion and let what 1t is
when il before the world-whether IL be matter
worth the while OF spending all this time and money.
But do not think IL best 10 strike this out merely upon
the suggestion alone that il is TO cost much money,
or that the person employed has too large salary.
With all due Difference my friend from New Hamp-
shire tMr. HALr,l | must say he has failed TO show
that this appropriation ~ lnexpedient, that the work
has been prosecuted in improper manner because it
not done al the Nalional Observatory II may turn
that he has good for the objections he adj
vances and when it does, il IL is expedent for to
take different course, l. for one, ready TO take it,
Mr. MALLORY, Mr.. President, with some little
knowledge OF the navy yield to senator upon this
mensurate with its Importance and the and inter-
n he but n n friend ri thu navv and