Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-06

ton, placed himself under the critical
examination of every subordinate. If
his actions with regard TO promotions,
etc. were unfairly controlled by po-
litical influence, as Mr.. Hough charges,
would he dare TO make i complete eX-
posture of his actions before the entire
service? Or, to state the case differ
emily, does not this official, living in
the full sunlight of publicity, not only
preclude the possibility of favoritism
being shown, but gives the strongest
possible evidence of the desire of the
chief and of his administrative assist
ANTS 10 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 bureau the spirit of the
civil service law is carried far beyond
the letter; for each employe of the
service must pass through a system
of study and intellectual growth that
| takes him at least six years TO pass
| from the rank of assistant observer to
might, with profit, have quoted from
the 18th report of the civil service
commission, which on page 164 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 this 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 the letter of the civil
service law. but carries its spirit to q
logical conclusion There are very few
excepted positions, practically the only
appointments made outside the civil
service register being TO temporary pc
sitions of short duration, when eligi
bles are not Immediately available
Perhaps the most striking proof of TIE
excellent conditions prevailing in tho
bureau is TO Ge found in the table OF
separations from the service"
Might Have Asked Congressman.
1t would seem as though Everybody,
might have secured an expression OF
lOpinion from some of the various sen
lators and representatives who pass
upon the appropriations of the bureau
and who for il years have listened &c
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 opinion of Hon. Charles f. Scott
chairman of the house committee OF
agriculture. which will be found ex
pressed on page 1916 of the Congress
SiOnal Record of last winter. He said:
THE present chief of the weather
! bureau has been a member of that bl
reau for 81 years. He has been it;
chief for 16 years. and during those II
lyears he has conducted its affairs will
such signal ability that the weather
bureau of the United States undoubted
lly now stands in the very front ranl
of similar organizations the world ovel
and is looked to from every other coun
try in the world as a model for sucf
organizations. The chief of this bu
reau stands on different footing alsC
from the other chiefs of bureaus in the
department, in that he alone is appoint
ed by the president and confirmed b!
the senate, and in the absence of tn,
| secretary and the assistant secretar!
he is the acting secretary for the de
lpartment. A great deal of responsible
: lily rests upon him, and he discharge
, his duty with marked ability
In the same issue of the Record, Hon
James r. Mann said, in debate:
: Il think from my own knowledge {;
the situation, that this service is tn,
most economically administered ser
, vice, with the work that has beer