The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-01

BY Admiral Davis, who resigned a more
important billet, that Of chief OF the Blu,
reau Of Navigation. to assume direction
of the Observatory. Tor which he was emil
pently fitted both 10y taste and training.
Great projects were started by Admiral
Davis and great things would have been
carried out. but astronomical results are
slow I'm achieving, and Admiral Davis
was detached and ordered 10 sea, and
again the continuity Of the work was in
terrupted. as it had previously been by
the resignation Of Maury and the death
Of Gnliss.
II must be apparent to the most super
fetal Of laymen that It Is impossible for
an astronomical observatory TO accom-
plish satisfactory work under a constant
~ changing head, and it was this obvious
fact that prompted Prof. Henry at the
time Of Admiral Davis transfer 10 urge
the appointment Of an astronomer as di-
rectory Of the Observatory: but this plan
would have removed the institution from
naval control and was defeated by that
service. A compromise was brought about
by giving the professors free rein 10
carry on their work under an admins
trative head. who should be a line officer
of the navy. as It was alleged that pro-
fessOrs so able as those connected with
the Observatory required no one TO di-
rect their work, but only an administrator
10 look 10 it that the business Of the insti-
tuition was properly ordered. II sounded
well enough, and no one asked-or II he
asked he was not listened to-how three
men with different ambitions, different
methods. between whom jealousies and
disputes were all too frequent, could work
in unison toward a common end with no
one to direct their work
Given Full Liberty.
Admiral Sands was the first superin-
tendent under the new arrangement, and
under his administration the astronomers
had absolute liberty to pursue their work
as seemed best to each. Nor was Con-
gress niggardly in its appropriations. and
those who followed him were equally lib
eral, until there were chickering's and dis
putes among the staff Of astronomers
when their privileges were curtailed. and
Hndiy Il OOdIu, consisting OF the Superln-
tendent. the senior line officer, and the
senior professor. was intrusted with the
direction of the work This arrangement.
as was TO be expected, resulted disas-
trously, for what would line officers.
whose positions were determined by their
rank and not by their preparation and
fitness. know Of work in progress at the
observatory which might have been be-
gun while they were still callow midshlp-
men at Annapolis.
About this time the new observatory
was projected and, asked for its opinion.
the National Academy of Sciences ad-
vised that when the new building was
erected II should be a national institution
instead Of a branch of the navy and
placed under civilian management From
its very beginning indeed. unprejudiced
people OF sound judgment. while acknowl-
edging the great debt the institution
owes to its naval founders, have advo-
Gated placing 1t under civil direction.
In response TO the recommendation OF
the National Academy Of Sciences, Sec
rotary Tracy, who at that time held the
naval portfolio. advised the adoption of
legislation which shall instruct tho Presi-