The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-04-23

necessitated the retirement of four assis-
tants. The Superintendent determined
to remove eiCht; but two received Inv no.
cident notice of the fate intended for
them and had time enough to bring to
| the notice of the Secretary of the Treas
ury such strong presantntlon OF the in
Justice inrended them that he interfered
in their behalf, and only six were unde-
tended Eefofe him and dismissed.
Ii it was only for his treatment of one
of these gentlemen the Superintendent
stands overwhelmingly condemned Tor
absolute unfitnese for the place he holds.
Amnng these dismissed assistants was
Professor George davidson, sound in
L ca tb, active il mind, the most diStin-
guisbed mem Der Of the scientific force
OF the Bureau, man of international re-
putation and the staunchest reliance of
every Superintendent from Bache to
Mend.nhall. For fifty years his life was
one OF interchangeable industry, his record
enc OF honor and distinction in evsry
line OF work he has been engaged in.
Dsan OF the scientists on the paoiilc
coast, delegate to the International Geo
detlc Association, member OF the Nation
al Academy of Sciences, and with a
name connected with every piece CT
Coast Survey work from the Aleutian
ISLANDS to San Diego, a man who had
aeserVep every distinction that could be
earned In the Survey, he WIGS rewarded
loi naH century of the highest class OF
work by dismissal which went into
erect in one hour after notice of it was
received.
just before the last sweeping extension
OF the civil service regulations took the
scientific places in the Coast Survey out
OF tne reach of spoilsmen last effort was
made to utilize a power which was now
to be; lost forever, but the Secretary Of
the Treasury showed his appreciation of
the appropriateness Of so shameless an
exercise of spoliation by allowing the
removal of one efficient and respected
offitar instead of the threesthat the Super
intendent intended to dismiss.
1t is true that the recent extension of
the civil service regulations render it i'm
probable that such unjustifable and dis
organizing action will again be posi- BILE;
hut the memory of his snbserviency to
the policy of spoliation, and the knowl-
euge of the utter lack of sympathy he
has shown for the work and needs of the
Survey, preclude any hope Of usefulness
from the present Superintendent in the
future.
The duties of the Superintendent. when
properly executed, form burden for the
strongest of men; they broke down she
strength of Hassler, Bache. Patterson
and Hilgard; and Professor Pierce, the
SAStetSce &1hOlOHu iudtucliihUlCiah ri Aio
day, found them too great 70 sustain.
10 their, assumption came the present
incumbent, with no previous experience
of them, already burdened with the
weight Of 20 years and, as events have
proved, with mind which had lost it's
elasticity and entirely unequal to the task
Of mastering the great requirements that
were demanded in Superintendent. a
mind of the first order would have been
capable of this mastery; younger man,
talented and receptive, would have rscog-
nlzed that until time and study had
remedied his deficiencies q frank demand
for the advice and views of the assistants
who had grown gray in work which had
earned the commentator of all qualified
to pass upon il was not only due to the
best Interests OF the government, but was
most advantageous for himself. Men of
tho first class appear rarely; that he was
not of tho second the course Of the SUI
perintendent makes evident to everyone;
failing in both. the necessity of replace
ing him by competent successor is a
self-evident proposition. That the sue
cessoi should have the confidence and
suffrages of scientific men needs no bet
ter argument than she results which
have followed as a consequence of tine ap-
pointment of the present incumbent
Science.