The times., 1901-03-09
DISAGREE OYER METHODS
The Naval observatory Contro-
vcrsy Again Renewed.

Captain Davis Files ChHrEcs Against
Prof. =. =. Brcvn-FOur Formal Ac-
cusations Nade-A Conflict Re
tween Two sets OF Astronomers.
Can't. Charles H. Davis. the Supsru-
tendeut of the United States Naval OBJ
servatory has filed formal charges with
the Navy Department against Prof. S,'n-
son j Brown. tho Director of the 'Naut-
cal Almanac" Prof. Brown has the rank
OF captain in the navy. and is the head
of the mathematical department of the
Observatory ife is weN known i'm the
scientific world. and as an astronomer IS
said to be one Of the foremost men OF has
profession.
While the papers in the case are with
held from publication. and an effort has
been made to keep the matter from be-
coming generally known outside of oil-
cial circles. il is said that Captain Davis
has entered four specific charges against
Prof Brown. The latter is accused oi al
tempting to bring about a change in the
conduct and management of the ooserNa-
tory for the purpose Of removing II from
the Jurisdiction OF the Navy Department
TIo is further accused of having made
statements as coming from Captain DAVIS
which the latter declares are untrue ana
never made by him, with having made
certain threats against the superintendent
and with neglect of his duties as an officer
Of the Government
A controversy has been waging between
scientists of repUte and certain officers
for some time regarding the administra-
tfon OF the Naval Observatory The great
body of astronomers have long contenced
that the Observatory has no place under
the jurisdiction of the Navy Department
hut contend that IT should be a separate
institution by itself. If not that, then
they argue that it should be under the
direction of a trained astronomer selected
from private life, concerning whose abili-
ties there could be no question.
A sort of professional jealousy which
several times has come near causing
strained relations has existed between
astronomers in private Ire and scientists
in general who have any knowledge of
astronomy. and the naval officers, ever
since Admiral Sampson, as Chief of tho
Bureau OF Equipment. displaced Prof.
Simon Newcomb and a large number of
thc private scientists and Installed in
their stead officers of the navy. He he
gan The change about twelve years ago.
and the contention between the two fac
lions has been going on ever since. OF
late il has been quite acute Admiral
Sampson. with the same manner which
has characterized the two recent episodes
iB which he has figured. set about reor-
canizinE the Naval Observatory on a
plan which subordinated trained scicn-
fists and displaced many Of them with
officers of the navy, whom he maintained
were better qualified for the work
Since that time the few remaining
scientists have been the targets for the
attacks Of tho naval astronomers. Ad-
nlirfl Sampson declared that the fine
sensitive instruments OF the institution
were in very bad shape. and that the
men in charge did not know how to use
thom. He was severely criticised for his
action then as now, bat he had the au-
thoTiy and carried out his purposes.
Recently there has been put forward re-
newed efforts TO enlarge the powers and
authority of the astronomical director by
congress, and this has brought
greater enmity and personal
-ween Captain Davis and Prof.
rOf. Brown not long ago pre-
atement setting forth his views
sing the management of the in
md attempting TO show where
~ and what could be- done TO
~ - --.3 that he threatened 10 attack
Captain Davis before the committee OF
Congress having the matter Of the OBJ
serYatury in charge. He maintained that /
The lack of professional direction was the /
cause OF the failure OF the Observatory 10 /
reach the high standard of accuracy I
which is expected from Government in
stitutiOn of this character. He declared /
this TO De- the opinion OF expert astrou0- I
gners in the larger universities and OBJ .
s'eTvatories. There is said To be no ques- /
lion but that nearly all OF these men Z
agree with him in his contention.
or late q discussion OF the subject has
been carried on in Science" q weekly /
paper devoted to scientific topics and the +
mauaE meut Of the Naval Observatory
has been attacked. All this has aroused /
not only the professional pride OF Captain {
Davis. but il has eugeu8ered q stiII more /
bitter feeling against Prof Brown. and /
is said u have Jed 10 the action of the /
superb t=udeLt I'm filing the charges
IGe papers iu the case Were submitted I
to Admiral Bradford, the Chief of the /
Bureau of Equipment who has jurisdic-
tlou over the Observatory. and have been
by MN referred 10 the Secretary OF the !
Navy A copy of the charges has been (
Ser-sG upon Prof. Brown and he has been
given "a certain time in which 20 reply 10
them. N Nnat action viii then be taken is
as yet a matter Of speculation, but ii is re-
Eardeo as probable that a court Of en-
quiry viii be appointed TO investigate
the matter and render ~eport