The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-19
MAJon poWrLps sunEAr.
II Employs Over eco M-n sna TN. nm An.
nnnl TnY HoiI g Ahont HAOO OOO.

WASHINGTON. July 1a.-Mnjor Powell. tho d.
rector OF the Geological Survey. has complied
with tho resolution OF the Senate directing
him to furnish that body with q list Of the ON.
ployees OF his bureau. with their rate OF COM
ponsation. and State whence appointed. The
Information fills to show. however. what some
OF tho opponents Of tho Geological Bureau are
attempting to prove. that II is q hospital for
the relatives Of statesmen. The names OF the
employees, with few exceptions. mean Moth
ing to those not thoroughly acquainted with
their owners relationship to public men. The
fact remains however. that the nprroprln-
lions for geological work have for several
years been obtained because OF tho personal
interest felt by public men in the disburse-
ment OF this money. 1t u but fair to
add that Major Powell is not alono re-
sponsiblo for such abuses rs have existed
In the matter OF appointments. He explains
that. rs n rule. the clerks in the bureau. a.
well as the skilled lnborers and other classes
Of employees. arc appointed through the Civil
Service Commission. and that the men tenn
porarily working with the surveyors In the
field ure appointed by the men In charge Of
this work. Scientific men only are selected by
Director Powell. !lerecommends then, to the
states why they should be employed and at
Major Powell apparently feels that 4 the
House agrees to the wiping out OF S24OUW!
not lie will be the chief sufferer. In response
says that he cannot do tho work without the
money. and that II Congress-, will not vote 1t
ths S M nnC co heroic me"sures arg
being adopted to have the geological nppro-
priation restored to It. ORIGINAL amounsr as
House Is not. art to do violence to Its ideas
OF economy BY Increasing the amount OF Q
as sii II the teoogisai survey will be compelled
toget along this yenr with crippled appro-
Although Major Powell fails to make clear
the fact that the relatives Of public men have
been well taken care Of. he furnishes an inter-
ployecs required to prepare the comparatively
few maps that annually cmanate from tho
His 5rspy to the Senate rsSs9n IN
and field work about 2I5 clerks. scientific
400 men temporarily or perman emily engaged
IN fixed work. ! he salaries Of the first named
sss s pp9eEEs the IL the Of Sss
director. down to S4.OoO. which the
chief scientific men receive. ana 5000
OF first class clerk, Tho average sal larry Of the
regular emrlooyecs is something Ike q .s0o.
about, s25 per month. The totni annna! nay roll
IL in tho ncighborhood Of SiCO.oOO. OF the two
offices that have heen most severely criticised;
$3,0uOa year. and that Of assistant topoog-
rapher. who is n worthless son OF Democratic
Congressman. at $50. there seems to he no
explanation. except that tho title, executive
officer" has recently been changed to that OF
editor" The duties of this ofilcinl are said
to be chiefly in the nature Of editing" the
opinions Of congressman as to the necessity
OF large M preparations for the support OF the
Geological Survey Bureau. The explanation
in the ease Of tho Congrcssmun's dissipated
son is that he was appointed by n. previous
director Of the bureau. no excuse is offered
though he is rarely in fit condition to be on
du1Y