The times., 1901-03-11
LIVE TOPICS ABOUT TOWN.

front by the trouble at the Observatory
between Captain Davis the superintend-
ent representing the Naval Department
| and Prof. Stimson J. Brown. in charge Of
! the Nautical Almanac" and representing
| the purely scientific side of the institu-
| ton The heads Of departments of such
! character at the Naval Observatory be
! ing under naval or military rule are sub
! jact to removal to another place of duty,
| and though they may be eXcellently
! equipped for the service to which they are
| put their efficiency is impaired by the
| temporary nature OF their employment.
and their liability to assignment to some
| different form of work.
/ The difficulty at the Observatory has
been cause of worry to Secretary Long,
who has always advocated the appoint
ment of scientifically equipped men 20
head such institutions
Il have always felt that a man trained
for work on a ship at sea could hardly
be expected to he efficient a head Of
a scientific institution as a man whose
education had been specially directed to
the special problems of science, said the
Secretary yesterday.
Il have repeatedly recommended that
something should he done 20 correct a
condition which seemed to me an evil
one In 1899 I attempted, with reference
to the Naval Observatory to bring about
! an amelioration of conditions there. Tn
der the management of men from the
navy, 1t seems that the scientific results
did not represent the equivalent OF the
appropriations made. Numerous RENE
dies We're proposed and committee was
appointed with instructions to collect the
opinions of American astronomers and 10
bring the subject before the Navy De
partment The opinions collected by the
committee We're most instructive and all
were in favor Of change in the manage
ment of the Observatory. Nearly all ad
vtsed that the entire direction of the in
stitution should be entrusted to trained
astronomer, and ii was emphasized that
he should be of marked executive ability.
The one argument In favor of having
a naval officer at the head is that he is
much more likely to have executive ability
than man of science. 1t was suggested
also that the Observatory should be trans
ferred from the Navy Department TO some
other department of the Government. As
measure tending to alleviate existing
conditions it was advised that a visiting
committee be appointed, and in March,
1899, / appointed such committee with
Senator Chandler as chairman. The work
Of the committee was most satisfactory,
and its report. issued In 1893, has thrown
much light on conditions. Nevertheless,
! am still of the opinion that a scientific
man at the head of the institution would
make it more productive. and would man
age it perhaps with greater harmony
Members of the Naval Committee OF
the House and members representing
Louisiana were at the Navy Department
Saturday with invitations TO the Secre-
tary and to other prominent officials of
the department to be present at the in
stallatiOn of the hugh drydock at Algiers,
La, near New Orleans The ceremonies
Will take place in the middle of May and it
is to be the occasion Of a great gathering
Of prominent naval, military, and political
personages.
The South is going to make just such
an event out of the installation of this
drydock as the West Is making out Of
the launching OF the Ohio at San Fran
CISCO" said Representative Meyer This
big floating drydock represents the be-
ginning Of the United States naval power
in the Gulf, as il is the only dock on the
Southern coast having capacity to handle
a big warship. 1t is supposed to be able
70 take care Of 1900 tons though it is
rated under the contract at 1905 tons.
1t is now being constructed at Sparrow
Point Md. by the Maryland Iron Works
Company, and will be towed around
Florida some time next month
Senator Mitchell of Oregon, who was
sworn ia during the last hours Of the ex-
ira session Of the Senate, has had a long
service i'll the Senate, broken, however,
by an occasional skipping of term or
two. 1t is now four years since he oc-
cupied q seat His election, was the out
come Of a long and obstinate struggle in
the Legislature, and it was only at the
last moment that there was any thought
of his being the choice of the Republi-
cans His appearance on the scene avoid
ed a deadlock, which promised 20 be as
disastrous as that in Delaware
1t was anexample of the irony of fate
that Senator Mitchell should step in and
straighten out the tangle over the cleo
tion OF a Senator, since he, almost from
the very first, has been against the cleo
ton of Senators by the State Legisla-
lures, and in favor OF the election by pop
uar vote.
Senator Mitchell is at the Riggs House
and speaking yesterday of the attempts
which have been made to alter the Con
stitution in such a way as to allow pop
uldr election Of Senator's, SAID:
Il have always been in favor of it
believe that / made the first speech in
advocacy of the popular election OF sen
ators. 1t was made on the floor or the
Senate about twenty-five years ago. L
did not, however, introduce the first
amendment. That was introduced by Mr.
Weaver of Iowa about year before L
made my speech. / pressed a constdera-
tion Of it during my entire service IN the
Senate. and when | was Chairman OF the
Committee on Privileges and Ellec-
tions carried the committee with me. l
polIed the Senate on the subject Just be
fore | left the last time and found fifty
five members in favor of it. not sufh-
cient number for the required two-thlrds (
vote. you see. With the example OF Del /
aware, Nebraska and others before US.
think that the amendment may be [
adopted next session.
Senator Mitchell deplores the failure OF |
the River and Harbor bin, and IS IN /
favor OF some sort of cloture rule.
Sitting in the lobby OF Wizards Ho- /
tel. Judge Belford, OF Denver, was liter /
ally barricaded and surrounded by sheets |
OF newspapers. The truth is, he said /
after he had eXtricated himself far |
enough TO greet a reporter; the truth /
is that the only institution that has not !
kept pace with the teuoency of the times /
70 condensation is the newspaper. Here !
am in the middle of the Sunday edition /
of great daily, and ! VOW, l have not /
been able to find the news yet W hen J
some one discovers that the man OF to- [
day wants his news concise and to the |
point, briefly told, but clear that some |
one viii make money.
WASHINGTON A HOLY CITY.