The National tribune., 1892-01-21

a record prepared aud adopted OF the proceed
ings Of the day before. 1t would be contrary
10 all precedent TO assume that Mondays pro-
ceedings constituted so valid an organization
as to legalize Mr.. Dubois's election. Judge
Lyttleton Price, OF Idaho, presented Mr.. Du-
bois's side in a breezy Western way, which pro-
voked the grave and reverend Senators 10 fire.
quent laughter. On Thursday Judge Claggett
appeared before the committee in his own be-
half, and made an elaborate legal argument
which produced much impression on the Sena-
tors lie concluded by charging that Dubois
had been elected in violation OF law, and that
this violation was willful Had there not been
such violation he could not have been elected.
This concluded the hearing, and the case was
then taken under sdvisemcnt.
s@s
Almost every Senator and Member Of Con-
gress for the past 90 years have acknowledged
that building should be erected in Washing
ton for the safekeeping OF the valuable records
Of the Government, aud several efforts have
been made TO this end. At last IL seems likely
that hall for records will be built, for on
Thursday, Jan. IL, the Senate passed bill APP
propriating 100000 for the purchase Of a site
and the erection Of a suitable hall for the stOr-
age of records Of value The building will be
Of brick and perfectly ire.proof, should the
House pass the bill but as this Is the 10th bill
Of the kind passed by the Senate for this pur-
pose, none of which became laws, it will be we'll
to await the action of the House upon the
measure before being too certain Of having a
building for records.
sas
A movement 10 bring about a change in the
management Of the United States Naval OBJ
seryatory at Washington is assuming alarming
proportions. On Thursday. Jan. IL, a me-
mortal was presented to the Senate by Senator
Morrill,, Of Vermont, from the astronomers Of
the country, and was referred TO the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. The petitioners call
attention 10 the question of the future admins
tration Of the new Naval Observatory, saying
that " the buildings for this establishment are
now being completed on a scale and at an ex-
pense which we believe have never been equaled
in the case Of any National institution devoted
to celestial research. We therefore respectfully
set forth the fact that buildings and instru-
ments are not the chief conditions Of success.
A well-cOnsidered plan Of work, pursued with
zeal under competent scientific direction, is
absolutely essential. A body of the sblest as
tronomers thrown together without adequate
guidance, without any problem TO solve, and
without n concerted plan Of work can no more
achieve success than an army can march and
fight without General. The proper admins
tration Of the Observatory now being completed,
therefore, requires that its direction be placed
in the hands Of practical astronomer, and VIC
respectfully ask for such legislation as will Sc
cure this end" To this memorial are appended
the signatures Of IL eminent working astrono-
mers throughout the country. A pamphlet Of
10 closely-written pages accompanies the pc
tition, which give the reasons why this change
should be made. They do not ask for reform
in the organization Of the Observatory, but for
a change in the kind of work which il may
undertake. They are thoroughly in accord,
they assert, with the practical experience Of
the world, when they express the opinion that
the best man 10 direct the work is the man who
knows how 20 do IT, how it ought 10 be done,
and when it is done properly. In making COM
PARSONS the memorialists say that =" the prin-
ciples which make il necessary that an eI-
perienced lawyer should preside over a high
court Of justice, or that only a skilled musician
Of broad requirements should be the conductor
Of great orchestra, also prescribe that only a
strained astronomer Of ripe experience is fitted
20 preside over the work of a large astrOnom-
ical observatory"