Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-10-02
THE FISH COMMISSION AcCOUNrs.
Correspondence Between Auditor Chen.
OWeth and Prof. Baird.

tn. hEs!DkNCE BUILDING AT WOODS HoLL
And FAY FOB A STEWARD AND sTEwARDEsS
a correspondence has been passing between
First Auditor Chenoweth and Prof. Baird con-
corning the accounts Of the q. 8. fish commits
sion' particularly with relation to the construc'
ton OF buildings at Woods Holl, Mass. The
accounts OF the fish commission for the past
nine months are being looked over in Auditor
Chenoweth's Office, but have not been disposed
OF YET Tue Items that the auditor objects to
are IN reference to residence building" at
WOODS HoA and the charges for the
payment OF q steward and stewardess.
Tnere have been three distinct appro-
i pr1as,1ns made ma by Congress for the
of sa5 0oH IN 81 buildings at Woods Holl-one
one OF the same amount in 1855. The charac-
s o, me oui1dings to be erected was left to the
expenditure of all the money appropriated for
Inc s use Q, the commission, the appropriations
being IN lump sums, for the general purpose of
purpose, &c. Auditor Chenoweth does not
tnlnk congress contemplated the erection of a
residence and would disallow the account If it
tnas may comewithin his Jurisdiction. It appears
a mat the building known as the Crest
the In 1883 and paid for out Of
counts were duly audited and allowed by
th3ng Or CaenoWeths predecessor and the only
" Ia tuc IuAUter Is 10 express tHo
OPINION mat his predecessor was derelict Of his
duIy. Inc present expenses Of the steward
ana steWardess, If there are any, may come
Wltnin MS Jurisdiction and will probably be
a1saIlowed. Thus far he has taken no action
further than to write TO Prof Baird.
PROF. BAIRD's EXPLANATION.
frof Baird says that the residence building"
was erected out of the first appropriation,
and defends the action Of the commission in
erectng 1T stating that it is not residence, but
Is SO calied Tor convenience, to distinguish 1t
IRON Ine rest because quarters had to be pro-
Nueu IN IL LOT the commissions agents on duty
ra10ry ana other necessary buildings, and they
VIII PROBABLY not be questioned by the audi
TOR In conclusion, Prof. Baird SAYS in his letter:
Il wish 1t to be distinctly understood that the
so-called residence building is used exclusively
Ior PuDnc purposes, no persons being allowed to
mately entitled to its accommodations. In
view OF an the circumstances as herewith pre-
sented, think may properly claim that the
construction OF the first building in the series
menSloneo was In every sense necessary-as
mncn SO as are the quarters in navy yards,
Without the accommodations it affords it
would pc absolutely impossible to prosecute the
autnOr1zed work OF the commission or to proper
~ utlllze the appropriations made for this pur-
pose. Inc expenditures have been made in the
laserests OF economy and were necessary to the
u is not likely that Q suspension of accounts
by the nrst auditor will amount to much now,
put IL is thought that the matter will come up
for an investigation by Congress-.
various stories are told of the "extravagance
OF the commission" and have been given pub
shown. The law authorizing the commission
Is very loosely drawn.