National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1879-02-14
His Peculiar Ideas Regarding TrI-
angulati0n.
Tho Coast Survey and tho Triangulators.

Committee on Appropriations. In this matter |
Mr.. Hewitt leads all the rest.
And yet, as the Democratic chairmen of Gll |
The other committees know to their sorrow, |
his very Committee on Appropriations has |
usurped their powers and rights and |
iuties. Now nearly all the work of legislation |
Is done on appropria tion bills. and the leading |
committees scarcely ever appear on the floor in |
charge of the subjects which properly belong to |
them, except by sufferance. The army, the |
navy, the diplomatic service, the great sur |
veys, and each of the departments are reorgan- |
lied on Mr.. Atkins bills, and even the law |
business of this Democratic House is done |
through the machinery OF the same COM
mittee.
But IL remained for Mr.. Hewitt of the Com
mittee on Appropriations to take a bolder step
than all the rest to retain power in his COM
mittce. Instead of moving at the last session,
when lie brought up the question of reorganiz-
ing the surveys, to refer the matter where IL
namely, to the Committee on Public
Lands, he inserted clause in one of his appio-
priation bills submitting the matter to the
National Academy of Sciences.
Mr. Hewitt is comparatively q new member,
and cannot be supposed to know of the last cx-
perence Congress had in sitting at the feet of
this great academy to learn wisdom. The OBJ
icct of this communication is to inform him,
and those who are allowing him to run away
WIN LhS 1lpust Ol an I'M pOittub SublOCl lu-
volving the ultimate expenditure of several
hundred millions because science is supposed
to have spoken.
Said Mr.. Hewitt in his speech on the sur
veys:
was induced to move to insert clause in the
last sundry civil appropriation bill referring the
whole question rs 10 the conduct of these surveys
to the National Academy Of Sciences as the ouly
body who could form proper Judgment and rem
der wise decision upon question which seemed
TO to involve moro nlOmgutOIS CONSEQUENCES
than any problem of an industrial nature which has
presented Itself IN my time.
The N Nitionul Academy of Sciences was selected
because IL is body expressly Incorporated by Con.
gress. in order to maintain lofty standard of sci
any branch of the Government has right to nSk
for its advice and assistance. and the results of its
researches have fully justified the theory of its
formation. Among its members. Bache. Agassi2,
aud Henry have left their rCnOwn to US as a ma
tional heritage, and their fellows who still remain
with Us and guide its deliberations have made the
National Academy what the country expected of
It, body whose ability and learning are so marked
as to place 1t beyond the reach of ordinary preju-
dice.
In the compact lucid simple but far.reaching
report which the Academy has made to us con-
cerning the national surveys 1t has ylndcqted its
high reputation for scientific authority and given
us Il document of sound practical sense.
Let us see about the only body who could
form proper Judgment and render wise de-
cision"
The last experience of Congress with this
society of concentrated wisdom was in request
ing an opinion of the Tice meter. Every men,
Der of the House who has a distillery in his
district, and this includes about all, will re.
member tho Tice meter. Well that great me-
chanical failure, for which distillers were
forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dol
lars, was recommended and indorsed by the
National Academy after nearly two years Of
study. The first step was taken in this matter
by Secretary McCulloch, as will appear from
the following letter.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT Feb TO- 1896
SIR: have the honor to request TINT commit
tee Cf the National Academy of Sciences be ap-
pointed to report TO this Department on the best
method of proving and guaging alcoholic liquors
with view to the establishment of such rules and
regulations as may be necessary to insure uniform
system of INSPECTION of spirits subject to duties.
Secretary of the Treasury.
Professor JOSEPH Henry, Vice President of the
National Academy of Sciences.
July Q, 1866, committee of the National
Academy, which had been charged with the
matter, reported as follows:
The committee confidently believe that spirit
meter can be constructed which VIII register the
quantity OF spirits passing from still and afford
reliable check on the distiller and Inspector.
This report was sent by the National Acad-
emy to the Senate and was ordered printed.
April the committee of the National Acad-
emy further reported as follows:
After consideration of all the requirements nee
essary to attain the desired objects and critical
examination of all the inventions and suggestions
which have thus far been presented, the committee
has come to the conclusion to give the preference
TO the system of records solations and checks pro-
posed by Mr. Isaac p. Tice, of New York, oiier-
Ing the most probable prospect of success
The various % parts Of this system have been elab'
grated with great care and the difficulties appa-
renty met with much ingenuity.
In conclusion, the committee recommend the
deaed Hbc 10 eS ysSe 8 M aGs
experience may suggest and the condition that the
mechanical execution of the apparatus shall be
satisfactory to the department, and that the indi-
cations of the instruments shall be correct, within
2 per cent for high wines and per cent. for low
wines.
The committee would further recommend that
the meters be the property Of the Government, III
order that any discovered attempt to tamper with
them may be prosecuted as felony, and not
merely serve as an indication of an intended
| fraud
We have the honor to remain your obedient ser.
wants, JOSEPH HENRY,
j. f. HILGARD.
HoN. HUGH McCuLLocH, Secretary United States
Treasury.
Shortly after the committee further reported.
WAsHINGToS, July /, 1867.
SIR. The undersigned, members of commission
in preventing fraud in collecting the tax on spirits
| report
| That they have Just returned from q visit TO New
York for the purpose of examining the progress
made by Mr.. Tlcc in the construction of meter on
! ratus in state Of considerable forwardness, and
| although Mr.. Tlce has not been able 10 complete
lne WOIh llle llult SIecllleu tnby are sails
| fled in view of the mechanical difficulties TO be
overcome that great diligence has been exercised
in the work, and, on careful examination Of
in the plans of Mr. Tee, ana are convinced thai
they are much in advance Of any Others which
have been proposed. Your obedent servants, very
| respectfully, JOSEPH HENRY,
| j. H. HILGARD.
Hon. HCGH McCuLLocH, Secretary Of the Treas
ury
On the 10Th Of April, 1867, notice was give 1
by the Treasury Department that the Tc'
meter had been adopted in accordance with the
recommendation OF hecommittee of the Nation
al Academy aud that IL would cost from $60t
to 81 800, according to tho size of the distilery
Subsequently, Congress stopped all work OIL
these meters and submitted the subject to fur
ther research. Tho same gentlemen of tn
Academy, aided by others, took part in it
This commission examined twenty meters ant
made long report, concluding as follows:
The commission from the results of the who'll
investigation, have come TO the conclusion tina
the Tice meter more nearly iulhlls the require
ments of such an instrument than any other sub
mitted to their examination, and deem IL safe /
recommend that the Government proceed with II
use; but that provision be also made for allowing dis
tlers 10 use any other meter apprOyedby the Treas
ury Department which shall produce equally nc
curate results under the varying conditions Q
actual practice
Thereupon, by circular dated September
1868, the Government ordered distillers to pur
J chase aud attach one Of the Tice instruments
| ,fnnia1 oh that fhnxy