New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-28
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON.
THE DISMISSAL OF DR. COLLIER
MANY FRIENDS URGING HIS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
COMMENTS CONCERNING DIR. LoRING.
IBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUs


IBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUsE.l
WASHINGTON April PIT is already apparent
that Commissioner LorIng will be more or less
troubled for some time to come on account of his
summary dismissal of Dr. Peter Collier, the chief
chemist of the Department OF Agriculture. 1t IS
possible that when the Commissioner removed
without any warning man who had been nearly
six years in the Department. he did not know that
the dismissed official had very influential and DOW
erful friends in political life. well rs among the
leading scientific men of the country.
One of DIR. Golfers warmest friends is Senator
morrill,. who rs soon MS he heard of the removal.
went tO the President unsolicited and protested IN
strong terms against If. Senator Edmundsi IL also a
warm friend of the discharged chemist, and h., too
protested, as also did other inf Iential Senators
and Representatives. When tn National ACADEMY
OF Sciences Assem- bed here last several OF the
members who are familiar with DR.. Golfers excel
lent work expressed much surprise and considerable
Indignation at the action of DR.. LoriDg. Among
them was Professor Sllmsn, who was chairman OF
the committee appointed by the Academy to inyes-
tigate and report upon DR.. Golfers sorghum ex-
prrments. Professor SllIman returned 10 Wash
ingtOn this week for the express pur-
pose, il is understood, Of laying the
matter before the President. lie did So and III
the strongest terms protested against DR.. Lorings
action. There TO believe that he strongly
urged that if either the Commissioner or the
chemist must DO removed, 1t ought not to be the
latter
1t is understood that the President has been very
strongly impressed with the statements made to
him ou this subject, but that he is embarrassed by
the fact that the law gives the Commissioner of
Agriculture the sole power to appoint andremove
his subordinates. The matter is not likely to be
Iiovv for fTienla
show strong disposition TO wage war against
the Commissioner himself il that shall become
necessary in order to justice for Collier. he
appears have his side not only strong political
influence and the sympathy and support of scien-
nfc men generally, but also the large body of
sorghum-growers and manufacturers throughout
the country, who regard him the ablest and most
valuable advocate their interests possess; whilo. on
the contrary. they regard Commissioner Loring
with much suspicion.
IL is true that at the ss3sippi Valley Cane
Growers Convention last December resolution
expressing confidence in Commissioner Lorng
adopted aud was published in the newspapers OF
the following day. Tho official proceedings of the
convention as published, however, do not contain
that resolution or any reference whatever to its
adoption. This omission aiterward explained
by a member of the convention, who said tlat gu
the day after the resolution was adopted mcmber
rose and said there was duty which he felt no
owed 10 his fellow members. He then went ON to
say that he had personally investigated DIR. Lorngs
relation to the sorghum question. and had found
certain things to be true. The speech made "A pro-
fouud im preston upon the members Of the cOnycn
ton. and n strong sentiment was Immediately
manifested in favor of resembling tho resolution
adopted on the preceding day Aftor discussion,
however, u was agreed To let the matter rest, Win
The understanding that the resolution should not be
EN- oOdiod In the official publication of the proceed
ings.
timatiofs that the affairs OF the Department Of
| Agriculture viii be investigated by CONGRESSIONAL
committee next winter, and that basis Tor such an
| investigation will be found IN Commissioner
| LorinGs management; of the appropriations Tor
| sorghum tx Dcrlmcns.
msnbcI ol the National Academy or Sciences IL
SAID to be IN possession OF Information to the elect
! that part OF the last Appropriation was expended
| ~ a wasteul and irregular manner; thht AFTER
Sl2.OOO of the money had been locked mp during
an uiiro season, with view to paying IL out III the
form OF prizes to successful competitors tor the pro-
| ducGon OF sorg hum sugar and syrup. 1T was found
thai only eight pFfsons had entered Tor competition,
/ and tnat not all Of them were entitled G. prizes;
/ [ IA the committee ot awards was composed OF
| tnree men. one of whom possessed any chemical
| ar other knowledge respecting tho manufacture OF
! suear-1nc hring statlsuclan one - gardener and
! one farmer that this committee lgnorantly
! awarded one prize 10 man who had not manutac-
! turcd a pound of sugar-dn award winch was alter
! ward cancerd tnat the samples sent by many
! cnunetitors were not opened examined by tho
co.nmiitcc at all aud IN short that the whole por-
| ,nr,uuucc from beginning to end han been such rs
| To nuniy the intention oi Congress IN making the
! annro1ri1tion. IL II understood That mono OF the
nrizes nave vet been PAID and there Is said 10 no
con.l,lefa ole dIssats action among the competitors
! on that account.
| f. Is also asserted that Commissioner Loring
| has leased a piece Of land adjoining tho
| cty of Washington for the purpose OF raising
! "a cyop of sorghum this season that ths land was
,rrd for tine same purpose two years ago aud found
ut,su.table-the sorghum cane raised upon IT cost
| ,,o The t,oycrnmcnt. according to Commissioner
Io1lug's own showing. $40 per ton. 1t IS moreover
nssot ed that responsible farmers near Washington
| Lavr offered III wntIug tOr.ise sorghum ana supply
| n % the Department az - to 30 per ton OF cane
| On this subj .ct Dr. collier himself says that Com
missioner Louug Is only goinR over matter mat
! rs messed beyond the experimental Stagt-that
snr,l,uu u 81 ccs,iuly grown and sugar and syrup
.ur,rs.lully manufactured IN nearly every Northern
! STATE There are many problems yet unsolyed a. TO
soIs modes ot manu-. urr, ETC. to the solution OF
| winch ne thinks the efforts Of the Department
| .hnuId be dIrectcd.