Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-14
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
Plan of Organization as Outlined by
Secretary Herbert.

secretary Herbert.
The plan of reorganization Of the naval
observatory, referred to in yesterdays Star,
is outlined in a letter written by Secretary
Herbert TO Prof. VIM. Harkness of the OBJ
servatory. in which he says:
After much thought given to :he subject
/ have finally concluded to reorganize the
naval observatory. and to place you as
astronomical director i'm charge Of and re-
sponsible for the direction, scope, charac-
ter, quantity and preparation for publica-
ton of all work purely astronomical to be
performed at the naval observatory. There
has been much contention on the part of
scientists In America that the observatory
should, be ussreamsed Sy act Of Congress
The grounds Of this contention were that
naval officers, by reason of their education,
principally in other directions, were not
competent to direct astronomical work. Ii
has never been asserted with any show of
reason that the observers and computers
SO long employed in the observatory, were
not competent and scientific men. The
ground of the contention for reorganization
by Congress has been that the astronomical
researches made at the observatory have
not been conformcd TO any regular system;
that observers were left to follow largely
their own individual incffnations, and their
own ideas of what the interests Of science
demanded. without any proper correllati ton
My own opinion after much time given
to the subject, is that Of all the criticisms
made against the work of the observatory
this alone has any foundat tion. You are
therefore, hereby placed in full charge of ali
the astronomical work at the United States
naval observatory.
Those who were in favor of adhering to
the old plan have strongly pressed upon the
department the value of the work done by
certain former erintendents. who were
tons under which you take charge leave
AL such questions to you, and to YOU alone
You nave power to call into your counsels
an the talent and experience possessed by
Your subordinates. The department has
not seen proper to tie your hands by any
detailed regulations, IT being the intention
OF the reorganization to place in your hands
power adequate to the responsibilities which
are yours.
The department believes that your expe-
rience OF thirty years as an astronomer has
made you thoroughly competent to per-
form the duties and responsibilities hereby
imposed upon you with credit to yourself
and the department"
Accoring to the detailed scheme OF reor-
ganization the superfhtendent-a naval off,
cer,is given line officer not below the
rank or lieutenant assistant and is
charged with the general superintendence
and government of the observatory All
officers and employees are subject to his or
ders.
The astronomical director has charge of
the direction, scope, quality, character and
preparation for publication of all purely as
tronomical work, and of the instruments
The regulations divide the work into two
branches-astronomical and nautical The
hrst includes the departments of astronom-
ical observations and of the nautical al
manac. The second includes the depart
ment OF nautical instruments, the DEPART
ment or chronometers, of magnetism and
meteorology. The Reorganization does not
contemplate any change in the present
force. =
Secretary Herbert's action does not affect
the force at the naval observatory, nor ada
to. take away or transfer any of the duties
OF the naval to the sciei tific attaches of the
institutions. 1t simplfes the relations
which exist between these two branches
and the Navy Department itself The
astrcf omers will have complete control of
observations, and will report directly to the
Navy Department when they have any
thing to communicate. instead of transmit
ting II to the naval officer on duty as
superintendent of the observatory
The naval offic, ,rs will have charge of the
regulation Of all instruments used on board
ship and other matters pertaining to the
nautical part Of the Institution. The new
arrangement has been adopted simply to
prevent a recurrence of misunderstanding
that have hitherto arisen between the civil
and naval forces at the observatory re-
garding their official rights. and places them
on the same level and independent of each
other so far as their business with the
Navy Department is concerned.