Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-27
Recommendations of Change Made
by Board Of Visitors.
TO TAKE IT FROM NAVAL CONTROL
The Character of Administration
Suggested.
INSTITUTIONS IMPORTANCE


the board of visitors to the United States
naval observatory for 1899, and approved
by the Secretary of the Navy, in regard to
the organization and management of the
naval observatory. This report was laid
before Congress few days before the holi-
day recess was taken. The report, in brief,
states that there has not been adequate
direction to the work of the observatory.
that 1t should be under the immediate su-
pervison of an astronomer, and that the
plan Of It's work should be laid out by a
board capable of fully appreciating the best
uses that may be made of such insti-
tuition.
The Naval Observatory.
The board of visitors making this report
consisted of Senator VIM. E. Chandler, A.
G. Dayton, Edward C. Pickering, George
c. Comstock and George E. Hale. The re-
port states:
1.-The naval observatory, which was orig
inally established as a scientific bureau,
auxiliary to the needs of the naval service.
has become, through half a century of
growth and through the expenditure of
large sums of money, as authorized by law,
an astronomical observa tory of the first
rank in respect of buildings. instruments
and equipment. But by far the larger and
more valuable part of its equipment has
little or no reference to any direct require
ment Of the naval service, and its existence
can be justified only on the ground that
Congress has intended to establish and
maintain a national astronomical observa-
tory. Under these changed circumstances
its continued connection with the Navy De-
partment has seemed to many of those
whose views have been submitted to the
board of visitors illogical and undesirable.
In view. however, of the absence of a ma
tional university, a department of science
and industries, other department or bu-
reau of the government especially suited to
the conduct of such scientific work, and in
view of the diversity of opinion among
American astronomers upon the question to
which existing department the observatory
could be wisely transferred we believe it to
be ineXpedlent for us at the present time
to further consider the subject of such
transfer.
The Astronomical staff.
'If the naval observatory as shore sta
ton, charged with the performance of GER
tain functions assumed to have a relation
to the navy, is to continue under the COM
mand of a line officer, we recommend that
the astronomical staff of the naval observ-
atory shall consist of an astronomical di-
rector. four astronomers, three assistant
astronomers and such computers and other
minor officers as may be provided by law.
The astronomical directors and aStrono-
mers, whether professors Of mathematics
or taken from civil life, and the assistant
astronomers should be appointed by the
oSltSIAt, ny dliu Will TIE duElCS ana con-
sent of the Senate, to hold their offices un-
til their successors are appointed.
The Nautical Almanac office, which was
formerly a distinct bureau, is now admins
tered by departmental regulations as a part
of the naval observatory, and 1t appears
from the evidence submitted to the board
of visitors that the successful administra-
ton of the observatory is much impeded by
reason of imposing upon its astronomical
director the duties of director Of the Nau-
tical Almanac. Each of these offices fur
nishes abundant employment for the entire
time OF an able astronomer, and we there
fore recommend that there shall be a di-
rector of the Nautical Almanac appointed
by the President by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate to hold office
until his successor Is appointed. -"
Criticism of Administration.
"A criticism frequently and forcibly urged
against the administration of the naval OBJ
servatory, not limited to the present time.
but covering almost the entire period of
its existence, is that it's astronomical work
has not been prosecuted with that vigor and
continuity of purpose which should be
shown in q national observatory. The pos
sibilty OF conducting well-planned re-
searches with unvarying regularity over
long series of years should constitute the
great advantage of national observatory,
an advantage which is not fully realized in
the history Of the naval observatory. where
each principal astronomer seems to have
been left to choose his own line of work and
to alter 1t from time to time abandon it.
This is perha ps inevitab in a system
which places al the head of an observatory
an officer who is not a technical expert in
astronomical work. and therefore in order
to secure continuity in the prosecution of
work well chosen and co-ordinated with
that of other observatories, and also to OBJ
tain for the observatory and the depar tment
advice and criticism which shall be both
dtsinterested and responsible, We recon-
mend the establishment of a permanent
board OF visitors, substantially as follows:
Board of Visitors to BE Permanent.
There shall be appointed by the Presi-
dent from persons not officers of the United
States board of nine visitors to the naval
observatory, six to be astronomers of high
professional standing and three to be emf
nent citizens of the United States. Ap-
pointments to this board shall be made for
periods of three years, but provision shall
be made by initial appointments for shorter
terms. SO that two astronomers and
one member of the board not an astrono-
mer shall retire in each year Members of
this board shall serve without compensa-
ton, but the Secretary of the Navy shall
pay the actual expenses necessarily incur
red by members of the board in the dis
charge Of such duties as are assigned them
by the Secretary of the Navy or are other
wise imposed upon them. The board of
visitors shall make an annual visitation
to the naval observatory at date to be
and may make such other visitations not
exceeding two in number annually by the
full board, or by a duly appointed COM
mittee as may be deemed needful or ex-
pedient by a majority of the board.
THE board Of visitors shall report to the
Secretary of the Navy at least once In each
year the result Of it's examinations of the
naval observatory as respects the condition
of buildings, instruments and apparatus
and the efficiency with which its scientific
work is prosecuted. The board of visitors
shall prepare and submit to the Secretary
of the Navy regulations prescribing the
scope of the astronomical and other re-
searches of the naval observatory and the
duties of it's staff with reference thereto
When appointments or details are to be
made to the office of astronomical director
director of the Nautical Almanac astrono-
mer, assistant astronomer in the naval
observatory, the board of visitors may rec
ommend to the Secretary of the Navy suit-
able persons to fill such Offices but such
recommendations shall be determined oulv
by a majority vote of the members present
at a regularly called meeting of the board
held in the city Of Washington
Bill to Be Prepared.
The reforms indicated in the above recon-
lofy