Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-19
MAJOR POWELL'S ANSWER
To the Senate's Demand for a State
ment About His Employees.
A TEN.MILLIONAIRE IN A DAY.
The McGarrihan Claim Through Both
Branches Of Congress.
RETALIATION SCHEME AGAINST CANADA
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATcHl

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH
WASHING TON, July 1S.-Major Powell,
Director CT the Geological Survey, has COM
piled with the resolution of the Senate di-
recting him to furnish that body with list
of the employees of his bureau, with their
rate of compensation, and a statement
whence appointed. This information fails
TO show, however, what some of the oppo-
nents of the Geological Bureau are attempt
ing to prove that it is a hospital for the
relatives of statesmen. The names of en-
ployes, With few exceptions, mean moth
ing to those not thoroughly acquainted with
the owners relationship to public men.
The fact remains, however, that the ap-
preparations for geological work have for
several years been obtained because of the
personal interest felt by public men in the
disbursement of this money. 1t is but fair
to add that Major Powell is not alone
responsible for such abuses as have existed
In the matter of appointments. He
explains that as rule the clerks in the
bureau, as well as the skilled laborers and
other classes of employees, are appointed
through the Civil Service Commission, and
that the men temporarily working with the
SURVEYORS in the field are appointed by the
men in charge of this work. Scientists
only are selected by Director Powell He
recommends them to the Secretary of the
Interior, and in each case states why they
should be employed, and at what compensa-
tion.
Money Must Be Forthcoming.
Major Powell apparently feels that if the
House agrees to the wiping out of S240, 600
L. ,,.a%
he will be the chief sufferer In response
to the action of the Senate the Major SIM
ply saws he cannot do the work without the
money, and that if Congress will not vote
it the work will not be done.
Notwithstanding this apparent unconcern,
heroic measures are being adopted to have
the geological appropriation restored to its
original amount, as reported by the Senate
committee. The House is not apt to do
violence to its ideas of economy by increas
ing the amount of a Senate appropriation,
and it looks, therefore, very much as if the
Geological Survey will be compelled to get
along this year with a crippled appropria-
tlon.
Although the document sent to the Sen
ate to-day by Major Powell fails to make
clear the TACT that the relatives of public
men have been well taken care OF, it does
furnish an interesting statement as to the
number of employees required for the pur-
pose of preparing the comparatively few
maps that annually emanate from the
bureau.
Employees OF the Geological Survey.
It appears from Major Powell's reply to
the Senate resolution that there are en-
ployed at present in the Geological Survey
Bureau, in regular office and field work,
about 215 clerks. scientists and assistants,
=. L H.,
lily or permanently engaged in fixed work.
The salaries of tn st named class of en-
ployes range all gay from $1,000, the
compensation of the 5-rector, down to s., 600,
which the chief scientists receive, and
Sd, 900 for their assistance, to 5000, which is
the salary Of frst-class clerk. The aver
age salary of the regular employees averages
something like 81 800, while that of tenn
porary man in the field is about S25 month,
the total annual pay roll being in the
neighborhood of S400, 000
OF the two officers that have been most
severely criticized that of the Executive
Officer" with a salary of So, 600 year, and
that of Assistant Topographer, who is
worthless son OF a Democratic Congressman,
at SS40 There seems to be no explanation
except that the title Executive Officer" has
recently been changed to that of Editor"
Duties of the Official Editor.
The duties of this official are said to be
chiefly in the nature of editing the opinions
of Congressman as to the necessitv of large
appropriations for the support of the Geo
logical Survey Bureau. The explanation
in the case OF the Congressman's dissipated
son is that he was appointed by previous
director of the Bureau. No excuse is Of
tered for the fact that his services are re-
tanned, although he is rarely in fit condi- |
tion to be on duty.
1t is not likely that the House will re-
store the geological appropriation to the
amount originally fixed by the Senate Com
mittee, and Major Powell will be COM
PEELED, therefore, to materially cut down |
his force, which will no doubt still further |
delay the preparation of the maps which,
Senators charged in their speeches last |
week, even now do not appear for many |
wears after they would be of yalue to the |