The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-08-10
THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
An Effort to Discontinue q Work That Is
Claimed To Be without Value.

An Effort to Discontinue a Work That Is
Claimed To Be without Value.
Special to the indianapolis Jcurnai.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-Another effort will be
made to deprive the Geological Survey Of its ex-
istence. One Of the appropriation bills now
pending contains the provision for keeping MP
this institution. and it is discovered that tit costs
about half million dollars year. A member
who has watched the work of the Geological
Survey from its beginning sums it up as follows:
IL do not remember that any man or the gov
ernment has ever profited dollar by this work.
except be be connected with IL aud gets his
profit by way of salary. There is no law author
izing the Geological Survey, and there is no law
governing the large expenditures made by It an
nuslly. Originally there was little appropria-
tion--l believe it was $40, ,000-made TO secure
certain services in geology, and it authorized
the employment of superintendent. He so
managed the work that he did not complete 1t
within the time specified. and another call was
made for an appropriation. This time 1t antici
rated more work, and more money was given
than at first. From year to year ii has asked
Congress- for larger and larger appropriations for
the purpose OF making geological surveys. bur
without specifying as to whore the work is to be
done, and for what purpose it is to bo used.
appropriation increased from one, two.
three and four hundred thousand dollars
til. IN round numbers We are paying about
half million dollars year for this work. Iuas-
much as there is no specification as to the or
gasizstion of the bureau the employment of
any specific number Of men, the superintendent
ms maze as many sinecures rs he Wishes and
pay as large salaries as he may choose. But
the thing most object to-" continued this MEM
her, lis the manner in which this service has
been maintained. Il you will get the roster Of
the Geological Survey you will find that nearly
every member of the House committee on ap-
preparations and the Senate committee on ap-
preparations. for the last ten years. has had at
least one friend, il not ten. in this service.
Places have been doled out to men Ia Congress
for the purpose OF gsttiug their influence and it
has been q clear case of you scratch my back
and will scratch yours till this little pimple
has grown to be a great carbuncle on the body
politic, and instead of spending SIC, 600 year,
as at first, the money given the geological sur
vsy every year prises quite alarge part of the
general appropriation. i know of no service SO
useless to the country. and none that could be so
easily exploded by any one 10 Congress who
would take the trouble to jump into it 1t is
vulnerable at every point Nearly al OF the
men employed experts are without any prac-
tical knowledge Of geology, although there are
connected with it do not blame the men who
are carried on the rolls. 1t is not their fault.
Neither is it to their blame that they have moth
ing do. Nor can il be said that they are
blameworthy because it is within the power Of
their chief to give them large or small salaries.
assign them to alleged duties, or allow them to
remain at their homes. and to have absolute con-
troll of the large appropriation made every
wear"