Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-06-10
Central Physical observatory. St.
Petersurg; /. e.. the official meteor
illogical service of the Russian en-
pire.

The creation of such q system would
not. indeed, be an im~possibility, but
would involve the expenditure OF a
great deal of money. only in North
America is there to be found an APP
proach to such a system. In Europe
we have to content ourselves with a
less costly and. ii must be admitted.
less complete system.-Dr. Henrik
Mohn. director Of tho meteorological
system of Norway.
Ii Mr.. Hough had stated the fol-
lowing facts his conclusions would
have been quite different:
That from the beginning of the
present administration of the weather
service no employe has ever been re-
moved without the full reasons for his
dismissal being given and the employe
given opportunity to vindicate nm
| self: that with one exception no per-
| son dismissed for cause has ever been
| reinstated in the weather service. and
in the case of this exception the EN-
Move was restored without the use oil
| political influence, but because of m
| error in the procedure which ae-
complished his dismissal. that on the
| first of ZACH month a printed state
mont is issued to every employe of the
bureau giving all details with regard
to ap~pointments, dismissals. promo
| tons and assignments to duty, with
the exact reasons for each reduction
or dismissal. so hat the chief OF bu-
rear has from the first day OF ms ad-
ministration. placed himself under the
| critical examination of every subordi-
nate, If his actions with regard 70
promotions. etc, were unfairly con-
trolled by political Influence, as MT
Hough charges. would he dare TO
make a complete exposure of ms ac-
lions before the entire service; or, 10
state the case differently, does not this
official living in the full sunlight OF
| publicity not only preclude the posi-
bilitv of faVoritism being shown, u
| gives the strongest possible evidence
of the desire of the chief and his adj
| ministrative assistants to not only deal
fairly with the working force OF the
bureau. but to insist upon the most
rigid application of the merit system?
We believe that in the weather bu-
reau the spirit of the service must pass
| iGlbuRn Il System VI HNubN anu
lectual growth that takes hin at least
six years to pass from the rank of as
sistant observer to that of local fore
caster. Mr.. Hough might. with profit,
have quoted from the 25th report Of
| the civil service commission. which on
page 1854 says:
Stability of the weather bureau
force;-Some interesting data as re-
CARDS stability and efficiency under the
merit system are to be found in the
| tables included in his report. AS one
| Of the earlier reports states "A system
of merit and discipline has gradually
developed in the bureau. which not
only conforms to tn letter of the civil
service law. but carries its spirit to a
logical conclusion" There are very
few excepted positions, practically the
| only appointments made outside of the
eligibles are not Immediately avail
able. Perhaps the most striking proof
of the excellent conditions prevailing
in the bureau is to be found in the ta-
BILE of separations from the service.
1t would seem as though Every
body's might have secured an express
sion of opinion from some of the
various senators and representatives
who pass upon the appropriations of
the bureau and who for fourteen years
have listened to the explanations Of
the chief of bureau with regard TO
expenditures, Its charge that the
weather bureau does not make good,
and that the administration is not
progressive, does not agree with the
pinin of Hon. Charles +. Scott. chair
man of thu house committee on agri-
culture, which viii be found expressed
on page 1S45 OF the Congressional
Record of last winter. He said;
The present chief of the weathr bu-
reau has been a member of that bu-
reau for thirty-two years. He has
been its chief for sixteen years and
during those sixteen years he has con-
Quoted It's affair with such signal
ability that the weather bureau Of
the United states undoubtedly now
stands in the very ront rank OF similar
organizations the world over and Is
looked to from every other country IN
he world as a model for such orga-
nizatlons. The chief of this bureau
tands in the very front rank of similar
| he OtheI cnltlS Dl BUREAUS - ~ -
partment. in that he alone is appoint
ed by the resident and confirmed by
the senate. and in the absence OF the
secretary and the assistant secretary
he is the acting secretary for the de-
artment. A great deal of responsible
ity rests upon him. and he discharges
his duty with marked ability.
In the same issue of the Record
Hon. James r.. Mann said, If debate'
| think. from my knowledge oil
the situation, that his service is the
most economically administered ser
vice. with the work tina has been
done. in the governmental service any
where; that the chief of that service
is more careful about the expenditure
Of money: that he gets the best re-
suits from the expenditure of money
and gives way u fewer number oil
times to extravagances thah
any other chief in the service
6 e 1t seems to me II would be
worth a good many thousands OF do'-
lars If congress would advertise that
where "A bureau chief insists not only
upon economy in the service under
him. but himself exercises economy IN
making his appointments n does not
.r.r.nrfHtfAnE TINT