The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-05-19
PROTEST TO SECRETARY MOODY
Maritime Exchange Asks That the Hydro
krnnhic OFFICES lie Kent rs They Arc

The Maritime Exchange IL greatly con
cerned over the recent order OF the Secre-
tary Of the Navy relieving from duty naval
officers in charge Of branch photographic
Off ces except those in charge at the offices
here and in San Francisco. No one here
seems to know just what the Secretary's
plans for the reconstruction OF the Hydro
graphic Once are but the Maritime ES-
change officials have not waited to learn
officially Of the contemplated changes
before sending protest 10 Washington.
C.. b. Parsons, president of the Maritime
Exchange has written to Secretary rr.,uy
voicng the sentiment Of the members
toward the changes spoken of in newspaper
reports from Washington. The version Of
Secretary Moody's plans which reached
New York Is that after the cctachment
from the branch photographic Offices Of
the naval officers now in charge. petty
officers of the navy and civilians We're to
be put in control. According to another
rumor, the functions Of the Office We're to
he transferred to the Coast and Geodetic
Survey. Still another guess was that the
Navy Department was to hand over the
business to the new Department OF Com
merce and Labor.
Here is part ofNthe letter sent by Presi-
dent Parsons to Secretary Moody on tho
supposition that the branch Offices were
to be turned over to petty officers of the
navy or to civilians
The Maritime Exchange of the Port Of New
York. having membership close to /, 100 in
number, has taken "a deep and active interest
in the Development Of the entire hydro
graphic service, and especially its branch
here, and We know that the asst nment of
naval officers to- the manaten ent OF this
1ife has been OF tss very ,s sIshest service
he study OF currents, atnCsI heIiC con
ditions, storms, &c, the desig nation Of tie
different larts of the world, the preparation
Of the monthly pilot charts the discussion of
duties that can best be performed by naval
officer to whom education and experience
done So G to ost ana p
performance.
TO asst IN the MANAGEMENT, OF these I'm
portant branches to enlisted men. petty
officers, or even to civilians, would we feel
convinced, tend to RAPIDLY lower their tone,
restrict their usefulness and greatly impair
their efficiency
sderatcns will induce YOU to decline to assign
irent Of the Hvdrorrarhic branch ofces
throughout the country. II officers on the active
list are unavailable. In this we know we voice
the sentiment. STRONGLY felt, OF all who do
business with these officers.
Those who are familiar with the conduct
of the photographic Office attribute It's
success largely to the naval officers who
have always been in charge Of the ports.
The data collected by the office are the
gratutous contributions of sea captains
Of all nations. and the Maritime Exchange
people say that if civilians we're placed In
charge there would be a marked falling of
in the respect in which the Office is held by
the merchant ma rine and at the same time
in the quantity Of volunteered data.
A popularity OF the merchant captain
toward the navy is that he will not hesitate
to consult a naval officer about courses or
questions of naviga ton Of which he could
not be made to admit his ignorance to one OF
his fellows in the merchant marine.