New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-14
THREATENED WITH DECENTRALIZATION.
EFFECT OF DEMOCRATIC SWAY ON THE COAST

EFFECT OF DEMOCRATIC SWAY ON THE COAST
AND GEODETIC SURVEY.
Washington. July 10 (speclaD-There Is reason
to fear that the Coast and Geodetic survey VIII
become more thoroughly demoralzed before the
end of this Administration than 1t was In the nrst
Cleveland Administration This branch Of the pub
lie service unfortunately falls within the jursdc-
ton OF the Secretary OF the Treasury. and there
FORE az far the personnel OF the Survey Is con-
cerned, under the control OF Logan Carhse. AZ -
not entirely accurate. however, to say mat the
latter exercises supreme sway there. as he does
elsewhere in the Treasury Department and there
bv hangs q rather interesting tails. the outlines o'
watch may be briefly sketched. When the Cie'e.
land Administration came In. Professor MendenhaH
WAS the Superintendent Of the Coast and Geodetic
Survey an ONCE which requires not only the nigh-
est scientific ability and most thorough scientmc
training but superior administrative Abilities aha
sound judgment. These were the qnaIt'es pos
= scssed b. the men who gained for the survey the
prestige that IL enjoyed years ago. and these were
the qualities lions possessed IN . remarkable degree
L. Professor Mendenhall
b, Il MAS inevitable that he should become a maTkeu
man as soon as the Carlsles-father ana SON
wers IN the saddle and II was not long before the
yard was passed that "Aiendenhall must CO. The
rrrnos. of Logan Carlisle was to have his father
recommend and the appointment to the
vacancy thus created Of one Underwood, Demo-
cratic politician or political surveyor OF
Kentucky and a man who could be depended upon
obey the cOmmanoS VI i<o6hH >"'"''~ ~ -
card 20 appointments. dismissals and assignments
Tn. scheme was successful as far as creating the
vacancy was concerned. but then a snag was Struck
The appointment Of Underwood hung hre despite
the most vigorous efforts Of 1.-The Kentucky
crowd" Here was an Office worth" 5000 year.
and there was a tremendous scramble for it. Ken
lucky had already bagged the Office OF Supern-
tendent of the Bureau OF Engraving and PRINTING
and Democratic pie-seekers from other States made
common cause against Underwood.
President Cleveland. whose singular. albeit inter-
nittent and often peculiar. devotion to the cause
many occasions was perplexed. for the number or
hungry and thirsty and unfortunate Democratic
'scientists"' who were after the office with It's
IS 900 q year attachment. increased day by day Al
last Don 81 Dickinson. who had not then delivered
q speech criticising the foreign policy OF the Ad-
ynInistration. turned up In washington most op
por,,nely and Informed the President that the man
Tor the place was Dufhed. OF Detroit: anu az, 70
rusi snd dissppontment OF the Kentucky crowd"
Who had created the vacancy. he was appointed
It did not take him long to snow n tn "a me me Meas
Sres Of reform were the reverse of agreeable to
foean Carlisle who had expected to handle all the
polls He appointed his son y bss aSsa OF 1sse
tent men OF long experience and training. In n
action has been followed by the dismissal or PRO,
lessor Davidson and two other most capable ana
smni 10 dismiss another which foed by the
active protests and irterpoTn s OF .msssia
Sy Logan Carlisle and demanded by his father, the
GcrStsrv time and perhaps Congressional In
curry alone w astsrmine One vi fact hS% %S
lssn ana ,nnrs}xed and It's eiicency sacrificed for
~ soS{e benefit Of Democratic partisans.