Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-30
Bill Transferring Observatory
to Civilian Passed.
DEBATE IN HOUSE LIVELY
Hobson Opposes Abolition of Navy
Control.
cox CRIT1CrsEs YEARLY COST
Tawney Favofs Establishment Of q
Great Institution Which Would
Be of High Rank.


The House of Representatives today
began consideration OF the bill which
takes away from the navy the super
intendenoy OF the Naval Observatory
and places 1t in the hands of a scientis,
at a salary of $1,000.
THE main purpose of this BILL says
the committees report on the PROPOSE
ton. lis to place the superintendent
Of the Naval Observatory in the hand!
of man OF science who can render
all the service to the Navy Depart
ment which this observatory now rem
ders and can, in addition. as stated
by President Taft in his regular an
nuaI message to this Congress in De-
cember last. furnish to the world the
discoveries in astronomy that great
astronomer using such plant would
be likely to make
The first sentence of this bin Is IN the
language recommended by the commits
sion to codify and revise the laws. and
such provision was inserted by that COM
mission in its revision now pending be-
fore Congress. because the observatory
has grown up without any specinc pro
vision of law for Its existence and py
apDTOpT16IlOHS IiOUl scol ~ ~Ai - 49,
naval appropriation bill.
The Change Proposed.
Under the present practice the super
intendent Of the Naval Observatory is a
line officer of the navy of rank not
below that of captain detailed by the
Secretary of the Navy for this duty. This
bill proposes to substitute an astronomer
of high profession l standing. appointed
bv the President by and with the advice
and consent of the Senate. who may be
from civil life, who shall receive a sal
arv OF $1,000 per year. that being the
present salary of the superintendent Oh
the coast and geodetic survey and also
of the director of the geological survey
Who are the two officers mentioned In the
Presidents annual message In connection
with the question of salary and tenure
Of office.
AT this salary there would be little
or no additional expense in administering
the observatory in the change OF super
intendents from a naval officer to civil
ian. for If a rear admiral were assigned
10 this duty he would draw salary OF
not less than $4,000 per year. and the
nav of captain on this duty Is 5000
per year
Burden on the Navy.
Several Secretaries Of the Navy have
taken the position that 1t was a burden
on the navy to require its officers to ad-
minister the work OF dissatisfaction
with the equipment which is now pro-
yided at the Naval Observatory suitable
organization under the direction OF an
astronomer of renown. without limit OF
term. will be able to furnish to the
world the discoveries in astronomy that
a great astronomer using such plant
would. heEkely to make. while at the
same time performing all the necsss ~
partment."
Smithsonian Institution Suggested.
Representative Mann Of Illinois opposed
the bill, and suggested that the work OF
the Naval Observatory might be put un-
der the Smithsonian Institution
Representative Keifer Of Ohio called at
,ention to the fact that the Smithsonian
Institution is under the direction Of a
hoard Of regents. who are not all scien-
fists. and contended that the Smithsonian
could not do the scientific work required
REPRESENTATIVE Cox of Indiana criticised
the expense of the observatory, and SAID
the accomplishments were not In proper
tion to the annual expenditure necessary
for its maintenance.
Representative Sherley of Kentucky said
there was no authority In law for the OBJ
servatory. and that this Dill proposed TO
establish such authority.
Wants Navy to Retain Control.
Representative Hobson of Alabama OPP
rosed the proposition to take the observa-
toy away from the control Of the Navy
Department, saying that the work OF the
observatory was Of the highest impor-
Nc
Representative Tawney Of Minnesota.
chairman of the House committee on ap-
propriation, favored the idea of CONSOLE
dation.
Instead of having an observatory for
which we have had TO apologize for the
last twenty-five years." he said. We
should have a great national observatory
which could do all the work in its line re-
nuired for any branch of the government
and which would take high rank among
the observatories Of the world"
After some further debate, and despite
the opposition of Representatives Mann,
Tawney and others. Representative Daw-
son of Iowa moved that the bill be laid
aside with a favorable recommendation.
the House having been in committee OF
the whole. and this was carried
Mr.. Mann made the point of no quorum,
but withdrew II.
Fight Renewed.
In the House itself. however. after
Speaker Cannon resumed the chair, the
fight was renewed. A motion to recon-
nit the bill to the committee. with in
structions to define the extent and scope
OF the Naval Observatory's work and te
designate the particular branch of the
government under whose jurisdiction II
should be, was made by Representative
Sherley of Kentucky
On this motion the point OF no quorum
was made, and the yeas and nays were
ordered.
The Bill Passed.
The motion to recommit the bill will
instructions was defeated by larg'
majority, and the bill was then passed
without division.
LOOKING UP THE LAW.
Seeking Way to Punish Allegei