New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-11

branches Of the Government service within the
last twenty-eight months. The successors OF
some of them may be. and probably are. good
mon, who. with training and experience will
become useful public servants. But that after
all * not the main question.
Everybody knows not only that the changes
were made for purely personal or partisan rea-
Suns. but in complete contempt and disregard OF
the public interests II is the general impression
tina; Major Powell was frozen OUT Of the Geo
logical Survey. where he ranked as high rs did
his accomplished predecessor. Clarence King.
Major Powell had been II Union soldier ana hid
left an arm on 4 Southern battlefield. and his
presence WAS probably disagreeabc and lrksohe
10 IIokc Smith ;he knighily Georgian who has
- courageously turned many disabled mon
veteran ont Of tie Interior Department in the
last two years. Professor Mcndenhall. the III
rector If the Coast and Geoleric Survey. WAS
displaced for no other or better reason. apparent
w. Than that the office was wanted for Michl-
gan poliician-"Don VI. Dickinsons man. ITO
fcSSor Harrington. Chief Of the Weather Bureau
has been -,liimarily dismissed b"caIl>c-w''l APP
parenily. bcc.tus,-he knew too much, WAS
too scientific and probably did not slo"
enough vcn,rltion for the Goose Bone theor!
Of mctcorology Professor Davidson is the most
recent victim Of this persecution. \ man OF emf
ncnt scientific attainucnts. in The full enjoyment
II Ill his intellectual faculties. with tn" record
Of "A lifetime devoted 10 the service or the 'i"V'rh
mcut. he is east off To make room for a political
hack. probably ~ some clamoring creditor iii
the possession Of antc-clection promises
And 80 the dismal tale Of personal outrage
might be almost indefinitely continued IN tue
Treasury Department matters have perhaps p'F'h
carried with as high Il hand as anywhere since
Iosiah Quincy left the State Department. Logan
Carlisle seems to have full control. His VIII Is
law especially in the matter Of appointments anu
dismssals Queer stories are heard about the
reorganization Of the Supervising Archiect
Office. which, il appears. even the famous Dock
cry Joint Commission did not care to interrupt
II might not be Il waste OF time or energy for "A
committee of The incoming Congress 10 look into
that matter The dute. If the Supervising Arciil-
tect under the present law are OF the most I'M
Variant nature and the technical knowledge re-
oulred must be supplemented by executive abil-
itv Of high order. both united in the same per-
son in order to produce good results. In past
years q good deal of improvement had brcn maze
in the administration Of the office and in the
uualItv II it, work. but according to recent ac'
commits there has been anentable falling on
in both respects since Logan Carlisle ana one OF
his friends took charge and entered upon the
scheme Of reorganization. What has taken
place in this office has happened in many other
branchc, Of the public service The scope ana
duties Of which are even more disnctvely scicn-
tlnc good deal Of necessary work has been
discontinued or neglected. but more has been
n,rusrcl to incompetent hands. and the condi-
finn ~ affair. is rot only dlscouraging but Is
craving vnr,, from month 10 month. The war
fare that is being wagcd against scientific work
and investigation under Government auspices
hy tho marty In power is * relentless as il is
barbarOus.