The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-29
A GOOD BILL TO PASS.

The Weather Service of the Agricult-
tral Department Of the Federal Gov
eminent has become q necessity to all
the people. No one would for one mo-
ment think of dispensing with it. But
it has grown beyond the garments or
igina1ly cut for it. Its work has SO ex-
panded and called for standardization
and related itself SO intimately to the
vital interests Of the country that de-
mand exists for more specific legislative
recognition and regulation Of 1t,
To accomplish the ends the service
requires in the interests Of all sections.
Mr.. Willis L. Moore, Chief of the
Weather Bureau, who has made a
study Of the subject during more than
twe.lty years experience in the service,
has specified the needed legislation,
which Mr.. James w. Wadsworth,
Chairman of the House Committee on
Agriculture, has embodied in a bill on
the basis of the suggestions of Mr..
Moore, and on the groundwork of the
experience of the Weather Bureau since
its foundation when 1t was the Signal
Service Of the army. House Bill 1888
is before US and presents it's own case.
It is a measure intended to better the
whole service and to provide for the
introduction into it of the merit and re-
tirement system. Likewise the pro-
posed measure better distributes the
selection of men for the service, and
opens the door In every State in the
Union for the entrance upon and rise in
the profession of young men DESTROYS of
making this branch of meteorology
their life calling.
It provides-and this is certainly a
most commendable feature, tending to
retain men in the hard and exhausting
service by assuring them permanency-
for retirement at the age of 60 and IS
upon secured though small income.
to the fund for which they have them
selves contributed during the years of
service.
AS the bureau Is now organized 1t is
meet the widely varying conditions Of
the service by general law supple
mented by regulations. which. however
we'll intended. must be drawn I'D by
those who cannot possibly know the
necessities Of the vast ramifications Of
the several departments and their hu-
reaus. What is needed is a separate
law in detail for each department This
would systematize the service far better
and expedite its work.
The old law takes from the represen-
tatlves OF the people the power to NOM
mate to the service. The new bill cor
reefs this defect, sets UP a merit sys-
tenn and provides for entrance upon the
service under regulations as to age,
health and educational requirements.
Under the present system the old and
meritorious workers have no hope of
retiracy to a decent living when ply
sically disabled. All the best part of
their lives have been spent in the SER
vice. They are fitted for no other bus
mess when aged. and must be simply
cast adrift- Thus there is nothing to
induce a man to remain In the service
and make it life work which is all
ways desirable in such quasi scientific
endeavor.
The proposed new law does not re-
move the bureau from the Agricultural
Department. but it apportions the APP
polntments to the service among the
Senators and Representatives irrespect-
i've of political faith. They are to NOM
mate candidates for a probationary or
apprentice term under rigid restrictions
and regulations as to age, capacity,
character, physical condition, etc. The
entry upon the service must thus begin
upon merit. and so in a service where
efficiency and life devotion is so essen
tial political rewards and ambitions are
rigidly barred out
The young man who wins under an
appointment, realizes that the working
out of his salvation is in his own hands,
and that political pulls cannot help
him. AT present stability in place in
the service is dependent wholly upon
caprice, whim or personal ambitions Of
an executive officer, or the shifting reg
ulations of commission. Under the
new bill an employee cannot be removed
for political reasons. His tenure of Of
nee is secure so long as his service is
valuable TO the people, and thus his
fate is in his own hands.
Without a cent of expense to the
Government the bill provides for the
separation from the service of disabled
officials, and those who reach their
sixtieth year and have served thirty
years. on their request, on a 60 per
cent salary Those who reach the
age of 60 and have served thirty years,
are retired by compulsion on a rs per
cent. salary. Those reaching the age
of 65 without having served thirty
years. are retired on salary of one
thdrtieth of the 90 per centum of sal
airy for each year of service.
Those who contribute to the retire
ment fund as provided in the bill, and
who die in the service, shall have paid
to whatsoever they designate previously
IS per cent. Of the contribution they
have made. Those discharged by rea-
ron Of any change In legislation con-