South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-08-09
HUGHES CALLED
TO TASK FOR
DETROIT SPEECH
Statements Regarding Coast
and GeodetiC Survey Held
False and of MiSlead-
ing Substance.

gay were characterized as false as
90 facts and Of misleading sub
stance" in kilograms sent by ad-
ministratiOn officials Tuesday night
after a long discussion Of the sub
jtct by Prest Wilson and his cab
met at Tuesdays meeting The
charges related 10 changes tn the
coast and geodetic survey and the
census bureau.
Sec'y RedheId. in Binghampton,
". Y, telegraphed to Sec'y Tumulty
denying the charges made by Mr..
Hughes and later sent a similar tele-
gram TO Mr. Hughes. Edwin +.
Sweet. acting secretary Of commerce,
in Mr.. Redheld's absence, also tele-
graphed Mr. Hughes giving q de-
tailed refutation of the charges.
Durand Retired Voluntarily.
Mr.. Hughes cited the retirement
of T. Dana Durand. as director of
the census and the appointment Of
William ]. Harris in his place. and
the replacement Of .. II. Tittman
as head Of the coast and geodetic
survey BY DR.. r. Lester Jones. Mr..
Redfeld in his telegram 10 Sec'y
Tumulty says Mr. Durand retired
voluntarily and was recommended
10 his present employment by the
secretary. and that Mr.. Harris has
made a fine record. Mr.. Tittman
retired voluntarily. he says, and his
successor was promoted because of
meritorious work.
Mr. Sweet in his telegram to Mr..
Hughes quotes from his speech at
fr. n
erences TO the coast and geodetic
survey in part as follows.
In the coast and geodetic survey
we have had a very extraordinary
condition with regard 20 expert
places. I mean places that were
taken out OF the civil service laws.
j shall not 20 into exact figures. In
the year ending about April. 1916.
there were taken out 104-that is.
appointments by executive action,
removed from the operation Of the
civil service laws To the number,
j believe. Of about 104.
- believe that some twenty of
these were made without seeking
the advice OF the civil service COM
mission: 1 believe that about % were
made after seeking the advice, and
with the approval Of the civil service
commission. and beHve that 81, y
two we're opposition to the advice
of the civil service commission
Finds Grave Errors.
"in the absence Of the secretary
81 the department of commerce
GCue of the bureaus of which is the
coast and geoGetic survey. 1 deem
IL my duty TO correct some grave err
rors in the following statement DR..
Tittman. superintendent of the coast
and geodetic survey, the scientist to
whom you refer. was not displaced.
in February or March. 1915, he
came 10 my office and told me that
he had determined 10 resign on ac-
count Of III health. He said that he
had reached the conclusion many
months before and had already pur-
chased a place in Leesburg. Va,
which he expected TO make his
home i communicated this in
formation TO Sec'y Redfeld, who ex-
pressed surprise and regret. DR..
Tittmans action was entirely vol
untary and was not the result OF
any request or suggestion Of the de-
You refer 20 Lester Jones, his
successor. as a stock breeder and
veterinary surgeon At one time he
had a farm in Virginia on which he
raised stock. This was sold some
time before he entered the govern
ment service. He never was vet
Urinary surgeon. he is a gentleman
OF education and refinement Be
fore his appointment 10 succeed Or.
Tittman, he was deputy commits
sioner Of fisheries (another bureau
or this department. and displayed
administrative talent Of such high
order that he was deemed by both
the secretary and myself worthy of
recommendation for appointment 10
fu the vecancy in the coast and
geodetic survey. In our judgment
this bureau was well equipped from
scientific standpoint. but in great
need OF a man of executive ability
10 direct and OrgaEize its work.
He said that before Mr.. Jones ap-
pointment was recommended, two
months elapsed during which his
qualifications for the place were in
vestigated since the appointment
o. Mr.. Jones. the wire drag work on
both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts. and the coast survey and all
other worl Of the bureau have been
developed and prosecuted with
marked vigor and success.
AS To your statement regarding
the civil service. you are equally
misiuformed During the year 10
which YOU refer the number Of APP
pointments made in the coast and
geodetic survey has been far short
OF 100 The actual number is so.
OF which So appointments were
made with the approval OF the civil
service commission. The remaining
twelve we're for temporary positions.
chiefly OF laborers. at salaries OF
less than three dollars a day. None
of them are under the civil service
law. as IL stands now and as IL stood
for years
You say. 4 beliVe that siNty-two
were made In opposition 10 the ad-
vice of the civil service commits