Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-05-03
THE SCIENTIFIC BUREAUS.
The Joint Congressional Committee
not in Favor of RecOnStractiux
Them-Ninor Changes to be Recon-.
mended.

| After a session of over five hours Saturday
| the special committee, consisting of Senators
/ Allison, Hale and Morgan, and Congressman
| Lowry, Herbert and Waite, appointed TO see
what reforms might be Instituted with a view
| to economy in the conduct OF the scientific
bureaus of the government, substantially con-
Guided their labors. BY vote of to 2 it was
| resolved not to interfere with the work OF the
coast and geodetic survey, but to allow that
bureau TO continue as heretofore.
IN FAVOR OF ABOLISHING FORT MYER AS
\ SCHOOL OF INSTRUCTION.
Bya vote of 3 to ) the committee failed to APP
prove the bill recently introduced in the Senate
by Senator Morgan To make the signal bureau
merely weather bureau conducted by civil
ianS- II was, however unanimously agreed that
Fort Myer, as u school of instruction, should be
abolished. as well as the school of study estab-
iished at the headquarters of the bureau here
! IN Washington. Whatever instruction in mill
tafS slShdiIng Is necessary the committee is of
opinion should he given in the field and be sep
arated from the meteorological department al
together. 1t was agreed that
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
be restricted to what is regarded as the legiti-
mate business of u survey, and is prohibited
from printing and publishing at government
expense any works beyond a report containing
the transactions of the bureau and the results
thereon. IhlS change, which is in accordance
with the bill introduced in the House Il few
days ago by Mr.. Herbert, will effect an annual
saving to the government which is varionsiy
estimated at from 100000 tn $3.50, 900. This
action If ratified by Congress will cut Off from
that bureau ali archaeological work, all print
Ing OF general discussion OF geological theories
and tue publication of all bulletins and mono
graphs.
PROF. POWELL CRITICIsES THE HERBERT BILL
The reply of Prof Powell to the request Of the
commission for his opinion OF the bill has been
submitted to the Senate. He SAYS that if the
term theory" in the bill is used in the popular
sense II will not effect the bureau, but if in the
sclentlhc sense 1t would seem to prohibit the
Pun - vi any properly arranged geological
survey may be published, but all the results of
those doings must remain unpublished. The
director may report that he has prepared geo.
logical sections of district country; that he
had made Il study of the rocks, fossils and min
erals, but cannot report any facts or conclusions
relating thereto; and, in general, the clause
prohibits the publication by the government OF
any material whatever except the transactions
or business operations of the survey. The third
section provides that the results OF the work of
the survey shall become the property of the Off
GERS and employees OF the survey, and'provides
that they may publish and copyright the
same. The chief incentive, the director
says. to earnest, thorough and efficient
work by honorable scientific men consists in
the opportunity for publication and if that be
prohibited only men of wealth can be induced
10 share in those 1abOrs OF the survey, whose re-
suits cannot be sold to interested parties. Sec
ton four provides for the sale of all such labor
ttorles and other property now in use by the
geoioslcs,i survey as snail be no longer needed
after the passage of this act" The principal
properties to be sold under this provision would
be a portion of the building of the Smithsonian
Institution, portion OF the building of the Ma
tlonal Museum portion of the rented build
ing III Washington used as headquarters and
0IIlces by the survey and a portion of the Pea
Oouy museum OF Yale college. Such sale
would be impossible, and he therefore considers
thiS provision nugatory. 1t may be inferred
froi Powell says, That it is the purpose of the
bill to abolish the paleontolOgic laboratories of
the geological survey. In this case the bill pro-
vIdes for the sale of the laboratory property
connected Herewith, no article of which be-
longs To the geological survey, all such prOperty
being provided by the National Museum or the
museum OF Yale college.