Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-08-10
COAST SURVEY SCANDALS.
The Service Declared to be DemOraIized
and Disreputable.
From the Neto York SlsM.

From the Bet0 York Sun.
WASHINGTON, Aug. THE report OF
the committee, consisting of Messrs.
Thorn, Garrison and Huntington, upon
their investigation of the coast survey,
has been submitted to the Secretary OF the
Treasury. They say the condition OF the
survey is one OF Generalization, and its
workings are inefficient, unjust, and, to
some extent, disreputable. The regula.
tiOns are partially to blame, but the late
superintendent is chargeable with a will
ingness to avail himself of oppOr-
tunities for a continuance Of abuses,
weakness, and procrastination, favOrit-
ism and arrogance, disregard Of regula-
tlOns, and notorious use of intOXicants,
The investigation showed large number
Of irregularities which involve reckless
aXtraYagance and gross announcement.
The committee find that Prot. Hilgard'e
habits and methods, his failure of faculty
or peTVersiOn of moral sense, unfit him for
a position of responsibility. The dismiss
sal of Col. Boutelle from the service was
perhaps undeseTyed, but his restoration
10 his former place Is deprecated. The
restoration of g. N. SacgmIller would, IL
is asserted, be detrimental to the morale
of the Coast Survey.
Evidence is gwen indicating Mr.. w. b.
Morgan's neglect to call attention to un-
usual or apparently unnecessary charges
while dis5ursing agent Of the bureau, and
the report alleges that he has become adj
dicted to the use OF intOXicants. His res
toration 10 duty is not recommended. An
early change is recommended, in the in
terests of good morals anu disciple, in the
position of clerk In charge OF the drawing
division, now held by Mr.. W. T. Bright.
The report vIndicates Mr.. A. ZumbrOck
Of the electrotypinR room.
The report says:
The responsibility for the lRmentahle con-
dition of the survey is due To Willingness on
the part Of Mr. Hilgard, The late superintend-
ent. to avail himself Of opportunities for
continuance Of the abuses; 10 his weakness of
procrastination IN administering MS Office; 10
his liberation and apparent encouragement Of
yicious practces; 10 hia exhibitions Of favor
iii'm and arrogance; to his continued and
iagrant disregsTd OF regulations de vised in
the interest Of honest, efficient, and ecOnOmi-
cal administration; % his protection II eX-
poaed rascaliiy, and To ms own unfortunate,
confessed aud notorious addiction 70 the use
of intoxicants.
The committee say that moneys receiv-
ed for electrotyping were not deposited in
the Treasury, but after certain deductions
Tor cost Of material were divided among
employees receiving regular salaries, as
extra pay for extra work, in violation Of
law.
Many valuable instruments charged 20
persons no longer in the service have not
been returned or accounted for, and n
number Of valuable instruments have
0een loaned % institutiOnsOf learning and
10 individuals without any apparent au-
thority.
q. N. saegmuller, late chief Of the in
strument division, was, while chief, a
partner in the firm OF Fauth a Co., instru-
ment makers OF this city, who have fur
~. 81
ments purchased by the survey, While
their trade with the bureau has been very
large, their names seldom appear on the
abstracts rendered 10 the Treasurer.
Property and materials have apparently
been wrOngfully converted into the use OF
that firm.
Visiting cards for private persons, in
oludmg superintendent Hilgard and fam
ily and other employees OF the bureau, have
been frequently printed in the engraving
division Of the survey, at quite aneXpense
and loss OF time, by direction OF II. q.
Oxden, chief Of the division.
The chief Of the drawing division, W. II.
Bright, has been paid commissions on
work done by employees Of the division for
outside private parties, and moneys have
been paid 10 employees Of that division by
Lieut.. Col. Craighill and Lieut.. Col. War
rem, u. 5. A., for work done out OF the ap-
prOpriatlons for the government. Mr.. W.
4. Bright, the chief, was much addicted
to the use OF strong drink, and was fire.
quently under the influence Of liquor In
Office hours.
Travelling expenses have been incurred
unnecessarily, and apparently with view
- favor certain employees rather than for
advancing tue real good Of the survey.
In the case Of Assistant J. 3. Bradford,
who presented false vouchers Ia his ac-
counts, and when discovered refunded the
amount through his wife aud by an order
on his salary, no action was taken except
10 let him "iie by.n a. Prof. Hilgard ex-
pressed 10, but be waa continued ln the
employ of The survey. IA seems 20 have
been h deliberate cnndOuaf0n Of embcz-
ziomerf, forgery, and dfnnkonncea. %