New-York tribune., 1897-01-17
ross1P OF THE CAPITAL.
-xAsrER-GENERA BIsSELLs TRICK
WITH UNCLAIMED MONEY
ORDER FUNDS.


--ssoR LANoLEY's INTERESTING PERSON
.,,rv AND HIS woRK-MRs. BURNErTs
p1Ay-rHE CONGRESS OF MOTHERS.
,.,,re,on. Jan. 16-"That was cunning
~, postmaster-General Pissell played upon
-. country" said former official Of the Post
Vs.. Department recently; "one Of the cleverest
49,, have come to my knowledge. The bare
49,. have been published. but the motives and
ITS have never been properly set forth 1t
this wav: When the money from the un-
hoa money orders had accumulated in the
n..,oNsce Department until there was some
:, ON 600 or 81. 100000 lying there. Congress
s,ssed a bill authorizing the Postmaster-Gen-
30, N nav this sum into the Treasury. for safe
..sn,ng. presumably. This was before MI.
s.'.a,ord.s inauguration Shortly after that. it
,,u be remembered, a financial panic swept
.r the country. and the Government was in
.ore straits for funds
.pos,master-General Bissell had plan. He
aid nothing but lay low until the END OF the
sscsl wear so that the increase In the revenues
:, the Postofce Department should not DC AT
.-,Ar,.a N the Harrison Administration. Then
hs pad this money into the Treasury as proh's
:, tho Postofce Department. and it was used to
the expenses OF lilt ppN'iHhiS'N' -'''
"onev Of course did not belong to the Gov
.r,ment II was the property either OF the
enrsr or the payee of the money order. ana,
"houeh II does not appear in any of the ON
,ai documents when the Government used th's
arev s II simply borrowed ii without the con-
n, ~ those to whom il belonged ana II must
80 |, hack whenever, as is constantly Oelnr
sana a demand Is made and one OF the ola
nancy orders presented.
sThe SEQUEL to the story is that the thousands
0f dollars that paid back
n account Of these old money orders was
vn.rse6 on the accounts of the Postofiice De
partment a. an expense when th9 MONEY Iii, .i',
hould he used to meet them has been ac'udh!
n,ronriated 10 its own uses by the Govern.
ment As matter of fact. blsseH uiu
~, care He saw an excellent chance |" nahs
a Az srea, showing for the Department. and AT
80 came time serve the President. ana. lnci-
ssn.aIlv. his party. His succes scrs. propaply.
w. that the horse is stolsr, will lock the Darn
door"
Professor Langley the secretary of the Snith-
.or,sn Institution. Is perhaps the least eN-
,,oited Of any man of equal prominence III the
ss,vice Of the Government. Like most SCIENTISTS
his thoroughly absorbed in his work. ana mas
.w interests outside Of H. but when any one
soss penetrate mis- sanctum he is most cordia'N
scsivod and the distinguished student IS gen
,ous both with his knowledge and his time. IL
,s indeed unusual 10 find man OF equal cru
,,,on who is able to X9lain the deepest sclen-
.,s. matters IN such simple language. and in
.o,ar a+ once instructive and entertaining
"a his Law visitors. He Immediately dlVests the
most abstruse subject Of the mysteries 'ia'
surround IT. and explains it in plain thsnsh
and IN n wonderfully forceful and convincing
manner.
Although at the head of the Smithsonian IN
sttution which is comprehensive IN It's scleh-
tic work. the Professor is an astronomer ana
t,s greatest interest is naturally for this branch
NJ science He was only lad when he first
bsean the study Of the heavens. and the rude
little telescopes he used were made Win MS
own hands. Vt might be said that professor
langley was almost sef-taught in MS CHOSEN
urofession His father was merchant man
Of moderate means. and unable to aHo" HIS
.n 10 60 on with his work in astronomy, which
ia long and expensive study and not proI'-
,be profession. He fitted himself. therefore,
~ an architect and civil engineer. but never
IN anv liking for these professions, and az
yS as he was able to. gave them up enilreiy
with the intention Of going on with his as
Economical education.
He had made great progress in the study oi
this science so great that position al Har-
ward University was offered him. which he ac-
ee1ied for the opportunity it gave MN lor
study and observatory work. From Harvard he
was called TO take charge of the Naval ObserVa-
tory at Annapolis. which position he resigned
10 accept the dictatorship of the Allegheny OBJ
servatory II was his work and career at TINS
observatory that attracted the attention OF FRO
,essor Baird and when the position OF assistant
secretary Of the Smithsonian Institution was
vacant IL was offered him.
Tha of
the Smithsonian is not lucrative one. poorly
paid In fact. when one considers the deep Ienin- i
ing. high character. and administrative apiIl!
requisite 20 fill IT, But II furnlsnes dpuiiudh'
opportunity for study on certain lines, ana Is
stepping 70 the secretaryship. one or the
NOS, important and influential positions the
scientific world has TO offer. 1t has always peeh
the wise policy Of the institution TO advance the
assistant to the chiefs place on the death or re-
,irement Of that officer. because. 1t IS argued
this is the only method which secures the carry
Ing on. without interruption. or the important
work OF the institution. and ii is believed with
reason. that 70 appoint an entirely new man 10
this administrative office would prove oeui-
ment. Professor Langley served as assistant ~
Professor Baird for some time before his death
In 1851 when he succeeded him as secretary.
His ten years Of administration have been sig
nazed by the greatest breadth. and he has won
The admira ton Of his peers. the love and respect
OF his subordinates physicist and astrono-
mer. his bent is. naturally. in these directions
put his knowledge is wide and comprehensive.
has been called intellectual magazine-and
ne has been a wise guide an Inspiration ana
stimulation 10 all the departments under him
In these later years Professor Langley has de-
Voted much time TO the' study OF mechaElcai
Hight. and 20 eXperiments to demonstrate its
possibility. H has published two books on ms
SUBJECT" Experiments in AerOdynamlcs uo3D
and THE Internal Work Of the Wind. His
,o'her best known works are "Resedrches on 90
nr Heat and It's Absorption by the Earths sur
lace and The New Astronomy. Professor
iAngleys time is so taken up with III" duties or
US ONCE that 10 pros ,cute his especial WORKS
shd make @xueiiments he must. or necessity.
ocrn the candle at both ends. and he has niue
unle for the distractions OF society he Is now
yer an occasional guest at dinners. an active
member OF the Cosmos Club, and the host, once
year Of 4 large reception. which is he'd. as
rue IN the National Museum Building. Nhetner
% society his desk he is Invariably a genial
ana responsive companion.
Nr Ferguson Minister from the United