The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-28
Cauxtic Criticism of the Board Con-
tained i'm Mr.. BIatchIey's Report
Just Published.
BOARD WRITES HIM A LETTER
SAYS COPY SUBMITTED TO 1T DID
NOT CONTAIN CRITICISM.
Eight Hundred of the 5000 Copies
Sent Out, but others Will BE Emas-
.culated-Act Called Illegal.

The report of State Geologist W. S.
Blatchley for the years 1901 and 1902, which
recently made its appearance after delay
that has been the cause of several local
disturbances IN the vicinity Of the state
house, has been found to contain a few
paragraphs of caustic criticism of the State
Printing Board by Mr.. Blatchley. AS a re-
suit the State Printing Board has addressed
a letter of censure TO Mr.. Blatchley and the
rest of the edition of the report will be
emasculated. About eight hundred copies
containing the Objectionable matter have
left the hands Of the printer and most Of
them have been distributed. The entire
edition numbers 5000 copies.
The situation is an altogether unusual one
and is creating much comment in State
official circles. Mr.. Blatchley. it is claimed.
has not been acting IN harmony with the
executive and other departments and re-
Gently refused to assist the Indiana Worlds
Fair Commission in arranging an exhibit
OF the natural resources Of Indiana for
the ST. Louis exposition. Last winter he
endeavored to secure the passage of a bill
by the Legislature making an appropriation
for such an exhibit. to be expended under
the direction Of the State geologist.
The members of the State Printing Board,
Governor Durbin, Secretary of State Storms
and Auditor of State Sherrick charge that
the criticism of the board which Mr.. Batch
ley incorporated in his report is not only
unwarranted. but that it was made a part
of the report in violation OF law. The
law provides that the report of the geologist
must be first submitted to the board that
the board may eliminate any portion of the
report which II may deem unnecessary 10
be published. The board claims that the
Objectionable paragraphs criticising the
board were not part of the report as i,
was submitted to tine board, but that they
were afterward Incorporated in the copy
that was sent to the State printer
BLATCHLEY'S CRITICISM.
Mr.. Blatchley's criticism Of the board is
made in the first part of his introduction
to the report, as follows:
"As shown by the accompanying letter O,
submittal. the manuscript and maps OF
this report were sent to the Governor OF
Indiana on Jan. 2s. 1902. The delay in pub.
J lication, which has greatly lessened the
value OF the statistics contained in the
paper on the oil industry of the State and
in the report OF the State mine inspector
is not, therefore toe fault of the state
geologist or OF his assistants or deputies
but Is due to the dilatory action of tn,
state printing board of the year 1902: tha
| board being composed of the Governor
! secretary Of state and auditor of state
Tho law creating the department. o.
geology and natural resources. as IL stands
| to-day, contains the following clause: Sec
/ tion .. The director of the department 9TH.
/ state geologisD shall make TO the Governor
/ an annual report of his labors, togethel
! with the reports from the various divisions
! including all discoveries and useful infor
nation he may have obtained in such serv
! ice. including such maps. figures and de
/ scriptions in geology. paleontology ans
/ archaeology as may promote science an,
1 in the diffusion of knowledge. and assist |,
advertising the natural resources of tn
State: and 5000 copies of such report shall
| be printed and published In like name
| as other official reports
..As the section above cited is not abso
! lutely explicit as to the time OF printing
and there was n seeming conflict Will
| the law of 1SS5. governing the action q
| the state printing board the whole cues
! ton was in 1890. referred TO Attorney Gen
| eraf w. l.. Taylor, who. after citing Sectio,
! as above quoted. rendered his decision a
! follows: Under the provisions of this sec
| ton. il is my opinion that the annual re
port OF the state geologist should b
printed and published annually. The latte
clause OF said section. lin like manner n
/ other official reports refers 10 the manne
of the printing and publication, and not 4
I the time: and such printing should be don
by the state board of public printing
Notwithstanding this decision. and with
! acONTINUED on PAGE 3. col. II