The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-28
DUFF|ELD'S fine HAND,
ItCaused Professor DaVidSon'S
Removal From the Coast
Survey.
SOME OF THE INSIDE HISTORY.
The Incident Becomes a National
EVent-CleVeland and Carlisle
Wired.

The inside history of the removal of
Professor George Davidson will disclose
the fact that men in Washington holding
high and responsible positions are guided
by small iealousies and feelings of resent
ment that would disgrace church choir.
When all the facts come to light it will be
shown that President Cleveland and Sec
retarv Carlisle have been misled. if not de-
liberatelv deceived, by General Duffield,
superintendent of the Coast Survey.
The superintendent is quoted as saying:
at will be recalled that when the sundry
civil appropriation bill was pending in
Congress petition was received from Cali
fornia praying that the professor be re-
tanned. Congress took no action in the
matter, and the result is that Davidson
must co.
Superintendent Duffield does not give
the true version. The real facts are known
to Senator Perkins and many other Sena-
tors. When the bill came from the House
TO the Senate there was no provision for
the salary Of Professor Davidson. Imme-
diately dispatches from California were re-
ceived by Senator Perkins, who at once
went before the Senate Finance Committee
to ascertain the cause of the omission.
Senator Allison of the committee knew
Professor Davidson and appreciated the
value of the service that he had rendered
for many years and told Senator Perkins
that the professors salary would be pro-
vided for. Senators Squire, White, Jones,
Stewart, Dolph and many others inter
viewed the committee. When the bill
came from the conference of both houses
Senator Allison said distinctly to Senator
Perkins that the bill as amended did not
disturb Professor Davidson. All of the
Pacific Coast Senators were SO assured and
the bill itself bears out this assertion. The
sentiment in favor of retaining Professor
Davidson was so open and pronounced that
the bill would have been defeated II his
salary had not been provided for.
The impression which exists here that
President Cleveland has been misled arises
from the fact that he has recognized the
services of Davidson by appointing the
professor on the commission to settle
boundary disputes. Moreover, the asser-
ton is distinctly made that the President
spoke highly of Davidson to Professor Col
onna OF the Coast and Geodetic Survey,
and went so far in the expression of his
admiration as to say to Professor Colonna
that Davidson would be retained. Econ
omy is certainly not the motive for the re-
moyal because General Duffield' s son, who
has been but a short time IN the service,
Davidson served for twenty years at $1,000
year.
Duffield succeeded Mendenhall, who was
man of great scientific attainments, and
since his advent as superintendent has
made it very unpleasant for men who have
gained special recognition for valuable
scientific work. The fact also transpires
that the Senate diminished Duffield's
salary to the extent of $1,000 per annum,
and he IS now perhaps endeavoring to be
revenged on the Senators who readjusted
his compensation.
General Duffield has not heard of the
last Of Professor Davidson S removal by
any means. He will be compelled, in the
order of things, to explain it in detail to
President Cleveland and Secretary Car
Isle. The displacement of a man who has
served fifty years and gained worldwide
recognition for the efficiency and scientific
value of his work expresses so much con-
tempt for civil service reform, that even
Cleveland and Carlisle will be forced to
protest. What Duffield may have regarded
as a little incident touching only his de-
partment has assumed the magnitude of
an event, and a National event, too. Sig
mails indicating a storm of popular indig-
nation are out on every station of the Pa
citic Coast from Alaska to San Diego. The
President and the Secretary. of the Navy
will be obliged TO meet the force of the
storm, although Duffeld's Office gener-
ated it.
Yesterday Senator Perkins telegraphed
to Senator Allison of Dubuque, Iowa, with
reference to Professor Davidson's removal.
Immediately the wire brought this mes
sage to Perkins from the Iowa Senator:
81 have telegraphed TO the department
urging Davidson's reinstatement IN the in
terest of the public service
Senator Perkins has also requested Sena-
tor White to wire the President. asking for
the reinstatement of Davidson. Messages
OF similar character will also be received
by the President from other Pacific Coast
Senators.
1t is clearly understood that politics cut
no figure in the controversy. Not one man
in hundred residing in San Francisco
where Professor Davidson is test known,
can tell to what political party the pro-
lessor belongs. He is not politician in
any sense. Very likely he is civil service
reformer, but recent events may in
duce him to inquire deeper into the mean
ing of civil service reform.
The leading men of San Francisco who
are most familiar with the scientific attain
ments of Professor Davidson express the
greatest surprise at his removal.
William Alvord of the Bank of Califor.
MIA says: II am shocked, surprised and
indignant at the removal. Professor Day.
1dson could have had from rich Corpora
tons many years ago three times the sal
airy that the Government paid him, and
now at the end of fifty years service he is
thrown out. 1t is not economy, for see
by the CALLS dispatches that other men
have been promoted and their salaries in
creased. Davidson has never cared for
money. He is like some of the French
scientific men who value their standing in
the world of science and their influence in
the Academy as something above millions
of money!
W. W. Montague said: 1.-The removal
OF Davidson is simply an outrage-the last
great outrage pcrpetrated on the Pacific
Coast by this administration at Washing
ton. 1t is time that the people out here
on this side of the continent should get up
and tell the country that they know what
is right and what is wrong. This is wrong
and should be denounced and condemned
as injustice of the worst character. don't
think a Government that tolerates such
things can stand. You can't make the
language too strong for me. Why, every
business man and mariner on the Pacific
Coast knows the value of Professor David
sons service. His office was open to all
for information
Senator George C. Perkins said David
son would never take as much as postage
stamp for the most valuable information