The Alaska daily empire., 1922-03-02
FISHERIES POST MAY SOON BE FILLED; HOOVER IS EXPECTED
 TO QUIET "POLIT|CS"; MAYBE

WASHINGTON, Marcl 2-In ap- pointing a successor 10 Hugh M Smith, United States Commissioner f Fisheries, who recently resigned lnder pressure, Secretary Hoover will have a chance to quiet the pro e<ts Of politics raised by some Of lis critics at the time of Dr. Smith recent forced refinement after 36 5ears in the service.
 As far as can be ascertained, there 3as no politics whatever in MT Hooyer's act. But political pressure has been so grelt at this particular point in the Department of Commerce for so many months that it was only natural that there should be misgiv- ngs particularly in the light of the raaition in the department that Dr Smiths predecessor, George M. Bowers, forced out by Secretary Red field under. the Wilson administra- ion, declared at the time that he would square accounts some day. MT. Bowers is now a Congressman from West Virginia, and his friends are urging a former Wast Virginia hatch cry superintendent named Robinson for Dr. Smiths place
 Secretary .ioover from the outset 9f his administration has put the em Dl1as sis throughout the department on making it serve the country's com merce and industry in the most prac- tical way pos ossible. It may be that lthe true explanation of Dr. Smiths displacement is to be found in a de sire on the part of his chief to ex- ] pand the commercial functions of the Bureau of Fisheries, just as he has expanded the commercial functions of the ether bureaus in the depart i ment Postwar conditions in the ! fishing industries are critical, the out i put Of canned salmon alone drop ping off 100000 cases in two years.
 On the scientific side, there is no question of Dr. Smiths capabilities. 1 His scientific training, freedom from politics. and loyal service to the gov ernment are everywhere recognized, He is the kind of devoted government worker the public often overlooks in i it's concept of a bureaucratic, politics ridden civil service. He started al the bottom 36 years ago under Com missioner Baird and worked his way clear to the top. Entering the United 1 States Fisheries Commission as as- sistant in 1886 he had charge of the i Division of Fisheries from 1892-7. He was assistant in charge of scientific inquiry from 1S97-1903 and Deputy Commissioner of Fisheries from 1903 B, when he was promoted to be chief of the bureau.
 The displacement of man with a record like that. naturally created quite stir here at Washington, par ticularly among his colleagues in the department, who are not aware of the reasons for Secretary Hoover's ac- ton. One rumor that found consid erabIe circulation had it that MT Hoover had fought to retain Dr. Smith, but found his hand forced by the powers above" There is no truth in that rumor MT. Hoover s appointment of Dr. Smiths successor as indicated above, should prove the absence of political considerations in the change.
 Another side of this picture is that the Secretary of Commerce, finding that Dr. Smith, after 36 years of service, had outlived his usefulness, and desiring to strengthen the Bl reau Of Fisheries to meet the prob lems that it faces. and desiring at the same time that no reflection l should fall upon one who had given long and so able service to his country, gave Dr. Smith the oppor tunity to resign and to state his own reasons.