The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-02-04
ROW OF THE BIOLOGISTS.
PROP. SPENCER MAY HAND IN his
RESIGNATION.

The State Board Refutes His Allega-
ton That Assistant Whatley is In
comp stent-The Latter Verbally Elk
amined at the Meeting by State
School Commissioner Bradwen.
ATLANTA, Feb. 3.-Ths fates seem bent
on thwarting every effort to obtain an &C
curate survey of Georgia's mineral wealth.
The old department of geology Incurred
popular disapproval aud was abolished.
leaving slight token Of its usefulness, aud
1t appears as if a requiem might be sungito-
night over the hopes inspired by the crea-
ton of the new one. The principal geolo-
gist, Mr.. Spencer, has been overruled on
vital point and the work Of which he is in
charge severely censured by the advisory
board. This, Of course. kills any opportun-
ity he may have had to meet the expecta-
tions of the people and that his resignation
win follow is not improbable.
NOT QUITE DECIDED.
He has given no official notification that
be will resign. nor does be warrant the
statement that he will, but is known TO
have such a step under serious considera-
ton. His position he no longer finds de-
sirable, and the sole question is whether be
struggle on IN the hope OF effecting such
results as his hampering environment
will permit. In December, DIR. Spencer
says, having reached the conclusion that
Assistant f. T. Whatley was incompetent,
he rendered his resignation rather than en-
barrass the geological board by reporting
such to be the case.
HIS REPORT.
His resignation was not accepted. and on
81.
mitred. 1t detailed the work performed by
the geologist and his assistants. OF Mr.
Whatley's report made to him DIR. Spencer
said: at contains some inaccuracies that
would bring discredit upon the survey. He
states sciegtific impossibilities, and re-
ports formations occurring far away in
Alabama. He recognizes worthless quartz
as a useful iron ore and useless petrifed
wood as Ignite, variety Of coal. No one
could expunge the errors and make val
liable report" The doctor further charged
Assistant Whatley with INSTRUMENTATION,
and with comprising the defeat in the legis-
lature Of the geological bill offered by the
board.
CONSIDERED BY THE BOARD.
At the last meeting of the board these
allegations were considered. Testimony
was taken and the chief and the assistant
each made statements, but no conclusion
was reached. Then followed the personal
encounter between DIR. Spencer and Treas
urer Hardeman last Saturday, growing out
of the formers criticism and the latters
championship of Mr.. Whatley. Today the
board again met to resume the investiga-
ton Mr.. Whatley showed his maps and
produced letters from Profs. Willett OF
Mercer College and Jones of the university,
who had examined him and pronounced
him competent to perform the work as
signed him under competent chief.
CATECHIsED AT LENGTH.
School Commissioner Bradwell then elab-
orately catechised Mr.. Whatley, and ex-
pressed himself satisfied of his efficiency,
whereupon the board, by an unanimous
vote, adopted the following:
Resolved, That we find E. T. whatey COM
petent to discharge his duties assistant geol-
ogist. under the act creating the geological
survey.
Resolved, That the chairman Of the board be
instructed to say to the state geologst and the
assistant geologist, T.. 7. Whatley, that the
board Is by no means satisfied with the condi-
tion Of the work. rs presented to them, and to
demand better and profitable expenditure of
the states money in the progress of the geolog
ical survey OF the state.
THE BIOLOGIST TALKS.
Geologist Spencer said tonight "with
scientific men can sustain my position.
consider this perversion of Office for the
pursuit of political gains. The manage
ment OF the survey according to the boards
policy after rejecting mine has cost the
state $1,000. Excellent assistants could
have been obtained for the salaries paid i,
but the chief was not consulted" Without
passing on the issue between the board and
DIR. Spencer. it is but too evident that the
plan of organization adopted by the legis-
Iature for the geological department was
ill-considered. Be the assistant capable or
not, be must be directly responsible TO his
chief, and the two must labor harmoniously
before any valuable work can be accom-
plished.
THE FORMER ABUSES.
At the time of the creation of the new de-
partment great deal was said in the as
sembly of the abuses which were alleged to
have crept into the administration Of affairs
in the old one To guard against a repeti-
ton of these evils the legislators placed
the geologist under such strict
surveillance and SO limited his powers that,
in a case like the present, his hands are
completely tied, and resignation seems the
rnIv Couraa laft oman RI him