The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-12-27
NEED HIGHER PAY
To Keep Good Men in U. S. Coast and
Geodetic Survey.

The annual report of the superin-
tendent of the coast and geodetic sur
vey to the secretary of commerce for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1910, has
just come from the press.
The introduction, which is signif-
cant of conditions within the survey,
follows:
Charts, as produced by the United
States coast and geodetic survey, are
the direct means Of protecting from
loss the vessels of our navy, coast
guard, and merchant marine, thereby
also protecting human lives and com
merce. The charts are produced only
by this bureau and reach their high
degree of value to the navigator only
when they give accurate as we'll as the
fullest information.
THE honest and candid statement
which the public should have put be-
fore ii at this time is that these
charts, which should new be expedited
in their production and carry accurate
and vital knowledge to all who need it.,
are in measure losing the value they
should have This may seem a start.
ling statement, and it is a deplorable
one TO have to make, but there is rea-
son for it. 1t is q workable problem
with but the one answer. To keep
these necessary charts in the hands of
all who demand them, both field and
office forces of the bureau must be
kept in the highest form. The work
Is absolutely necessary; il cannot be
accomplished without sufficient funds,
/, which are not now provided; therefore,
an adequate appropriation is the only
! remedy.
"The present condition is caused en-
tirely by lack of funds-funds suifi-
cient for modern surveying vessels, and
funds to operate same also funds to
enable US to secure able officers and
crews, with salaries adequate to hold
them. This is for the field work, which
is but the beginning of the labor.
Again, funds are needed for the Office
work, Highly trained men are neces-
sary properly to care for the data
which are TO go on the charts, and
those we have are SO underpaid, be-
sides lacking in sufficient numbers, that
they are leaving the bureau for better
salaried positions.
Indeed, the condition in the coast
and geodetie survey is so serious that
it threatens to jeopardize the public
welfare.
THE large number Of recent resigna-
tions from the commissioned person
mel and from the other scientific arms
Of the bureau, in fact from all classes
Of the service, will continue more rap
idly unless checked by meeting The
situation very soon face to face.
The commissioned officers are the
| lowest paid men Of their training in the
federal service Their salaries, com
pared to those paid in the army and
the navy for similar qualifications. are
from 30 to so per cent less Much Of
their work is more hazardous, requires
special training, and takes them into
all our country's possessions as the
| pioneer workers Of the navigators
surveyors who blaze the trail on land
and sea and no army or navy officer
has greater qualifications, nor do they
sacrifice more than the officer of the
coast and geodetic survey, yet the
latter works for much the lowest sal.
airy, gets no longevity pay, or emolu-
ments, and after he has given his best
years in the service OF his country be
must retire without pay
MANY of the bureaus officers ar,
| just waiting, believing that Congress;
win properly recognize this harmful
and unjust condition.
In the chapters to follow, undei
separate headings, | have endeavoreC
to try again, by further emphasis anC
explanation, to show what has caused
this certain disinteqation. with the
hope that relief will be Immediately
forthcoming, and thereby save furthei
inroads on the proper functioning o.
this important bureau"
| Throughout the administrative par
Of the report the superintendent Of tn,
bureau makes strong appeal for {
more liberal support Of the bureau, :,
that it may function properly, II
speaking of the conditions in thu
Washington Office Of the bureau, h
says:
'Too few persons realize the sacri