Evening star., 1912-09-29

i worked its havoc. Several thousands of
these fuses We're supplied during the
Spanish war and the principle is still
utilized by the army In making casings
for fuses.
In recognition for such inventive genius
as this England knighted our Hiram s.
Maxim. and France made him a chevalier
of the Legion of Honor. and what was
still more devoutiy to be wished. he
amassed great fortune None of these
rewards could he have realized had ne
been working as an officer of our army
or an employe of our civil service.
An officer of our army Maj. Geol &c
owen Squier, lately patented a system OF
multiplex telephony and radio-telegraphy.
and dedicated the patents 10 the Amer
lean people as a gift.
\ similar genius was latels developed
by the Department of Agriculture. This
was Allerton Seward Cushman, a chem
iSt. who ten years ago became assistant
director of the office of public roads. After
making some remarkable chemical dis
coveries of great economic value. he de-
cided that the government service mar
rowed his chances of success. So he re-
signed and established a private labora-
tory. One of his colleagues, Herbert j.
Webber, inventor of some remarkable
new fruits-including cross between
the grape fruit and the orange-developed
in the Department of Agriculture a skill for
cross breeding that closely rivaled that OF
Luther Burbank. He was placed in charge
of the plant-breedng Investigations Of the
bureau of plant industry, but resigned be-
cause offered a better salary as MEM
ber of the faculty Of Cornell University:
And more recently the assistant chief or
the bureau of plant industry, Albert +.
Woods, a distinguished authority on plant
diseases. has voluntarily resigned his po-
sition To find better rewards in private
life.
Nearly every month private capital
is tempting away some genius to whom
Uncle Sam SAYS farewell! with regret. but
10 whose merit he cannot guarantee just
reward. Thus the Carnegie Institution
has been able to offer opportunities which
have tempted several scientists away
from the federal scientific institutions
notably DIR. Louis Aericola Bauer. who
was Uncle Sans chief magnetician. and
DIR. Arthur l.. Day. his chief physical
geologist.
In nearly all branches of the govern
ment genius is thus kept dissatisfied BY
the realization that our republic Is grats-
full only to its war heroes.
In the various laboratories and
manufacturing plants Of the govern
ment employees constantly offer sus-
Sestions which result in material I'M
provements and economies. sometimes
such suggestions are recorded ana
are considered in making up efficiency
ratings but generally there has been
no suitable method by which the an-
thors could have been adequately re-
Warded.
Said the House committee which re-
ported the Tilson bill carrying the
CroZier scheme Of cash awards:
1T is believed that the government,
as an employer, should not continue 70
deprive itself of TIA" benelt that would
result from the Increased interest OF
its employees in the efficiency oi fh'lf
work nor he Ion-"r placed II tn
position Of taking the Suggestions OF
its employees and prontins wifh"ut
making any suitable rorompense there
for 1t is certainly not fair I" inc
employc."
Uopvright. 1912. ny John Elfrcth waiAlusJ
best be seen by facing eastward on the
evenings indicated a short while before
midnight The shooting stars viii darf
outward in all directions from the SOUTH.
western edge of the constellation Genlnl.
usually leaving a tran behind them.