Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-08-04

titic employees Col H. c. Rizer chief c.erk,
and now acting director of the survey. has
sent to Director Walcott, who is at Ovando
Mont a copy of the published charges
and other data relating thereto. Col
Rizer would not say that he had made any
specific Recommendations but implied that
the papers were sent for the information of
the director. An answer is expected, either
by telegraph or mail within the next rev
days. and 1t Is possible a general investiga-
ton may be ordered independent of the
sweeping inquiry to be made by the Keep
commission.
Alleged Retention Of Stock.
The positive statement has been made IN
The Star that five high-salaried employees
of the survey appear as special editors
of a Chicago mining journal. Two of these
have resigned their editorship-Prof. Z.
Willard Hayes and E. c. Eckel-but it is
understood that each of them retains his
stock in the publication. 1t was learned
today from a former empoye of the sur
vey that eighteen members or the survey,
some of them per diem employees. have
been serving as special editors and con-
tributors of the Mining World. the maya
zine in question. Persons interested in the
charges are of the opinion that these spe-
cial editors should be required to resign
either position the other, and to
dispose of their stock or dispense with their
government remuneration 1t is argued
that an engineering and mining journal is
greatly dependent upon the survey for In
formation, and that if one particular pub
lication of this character carries on Its list
of editors and stockholders the names Of
government scientists 1t stands to reason
that it has an unfair advantage over it's
com oetitorS.
The deduction is made that the favored
journal must receive considerable prestige
and acquire additional subscribers and ad-
n no init to
ton with the government employees, and 1t
is in this. it is claimed that the wrong
exists Those who have followed the mat
ter closely believe that Director Walcott
will order the severance of relations be-
tween the Mining World and the employees
of the survey. and in addition will order
general investigation to determine If any
employe has any interest. pecuniary or
otherwise. in any other publication or pri-
vate enterprise SO essentially dependent
upon the survey for it's prosperity.
Il is known that Director Walcott has
always frowned upon these apparently
minor infractions Of the ethical laws and
II is even said that he was unaware of the
rela tionship with the Mining World until
the matter was brought to the attention
o. the public through the press Indirect
charges of departmental graft and crooked
ness affect occasionally, those whose &C
lions have been consistently honest and up
right.
A prominent member of the survey said
today that in his opinion Clifford Pinchot,
chief of the division of forestry, Depart
ment of Agriculture, and named as "spe-
tial editor" of the Mining World. was not
aware that his name appeared in the Of
Tending journal until public attention was
called to It.
Mr.. Pinchot is somewhere in the north
west section of the country. possibly at
Cass Lake investigating forest reserves,
and consequently 1t has been impossible to
obtain statement from him. But every
pfncbOt'S hApn
mentioned has declared the utmost conf
dence in him, and expressed the belief that
he has been imposed upon in this instance.
Affair of Another Sort
Another differentiation has been made
by the employees of the survey IN the matter
of contributing stories to the magazines.
1t is claimed by biologists and others that
any employee of the survey, or Of any
branch of the government. for that matter.
has a right to sell general descriptive
stories, popular impressions of interesting
subjects and other non-scientifc matter.
provided the statistics upon which the gen
eral stories are based have been published
officially by the survey.
In reply to the indirect charges it Is said
that no instance has been shown where
actual statistics have been sold to pri-
vate publication before such statistics have
been printed in survey bulletins. r. It.
Hill. formerly geologist at the survey,
whose interview in The Star a day or two
ago caused much comment, said today that
he always wrote personal narratives and
the like for the magazines and newspapers.
This is considered quite a different mat
ter from an official owning stock In a min
ing publication which gives opinions on
values, publishes advertisements of mining
schemes. etc, and using the geological sur
vey Tor a commercial purpose, We
hicle of the vengeance of government in
stitution against a commercial periodical,
as has been charged.
A well-posted man said to Star reporter
today:
"In looking over the files of the Mining
World in my office since the names of en-
ployes of the geological survey We're placed
at it's masthead, in April last. l find that
only two Of the many members of the sur
vey have resigned. These are Eckels and
Hayes.
'Only one member of the geological sur
vey who does the actual constructive scien-
tific work is in any way implicated in this
matter. Dr. Hayes, the geologist in charge,
is the only geologist on the survey who is
accused of having taken stock in the publ
cation. and apparently he saw the indiscre-
ton and resigned. Men like Emmons
Hague, Gilbert Lindgren and Brooks and
other biologists, who have done the real
work for which the survey has received it's
recognition all over the world, are abso-
lutely untainted. The dsbursing and cher
clerks office are also absolutely clean
1.-The war on Wits Moore Is as unjust as
can be imagined. Clifford Pinchot Is as clean
as pure gold The real men back of the
scandal, and who are most responsible for
1t, have not as yet been mentioned
Movement on Foot.
Investigation today developed that there
is some step under way among employees OF
the United States geological survey to ferret
out the rascal, II rascal there be, and ex-
pose him for the condemnation of the pub
lie, thus shifting from their own shoulders
the unpleasant charge of graft. None of
the employees of the survey would discuss
this feature of the case today, but 1t was
explained that this was because no positive
evidence had been obtained by the geologist-
detectives.
There Is a disposition, however plainly
apparent to blame one man for the whole
affair. and It Is charged that this one man
was prompted through personal animus to
further the interests Of the Mining World
as competitor of the Engineering and
Mining Journal of New York. Until further
evidence has been secured the name of this
Darticular scientist cannot no accartaipad