Evening star., 1932-12-09

transfer the Weather Bureau to the
Department Of Commerce. Because the
bureau renders direct service to two of
the major groupings of activities in the
Department of Commerce, besides its
service to the agricultural interests and
the public generally, it Is included in
the service group Of activities.
MERCHANT MARINE GROUP.
In the merchant marine group, 1t Is
proposed to bring together all activities
Of the Federal Government that have
to do with the protection and develop
ment of the American Merchant Ma
rine. There are now in the Depart
ment of Commerce the following units
which deal with merchant marine mat
ters:
Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Bureau Of Navigation and Steamboat
Inspection.
Bureau of Lighthouses.
1t Is proposed to transfer the follow
ing activities to the Department of
Commerce for inclusion In the mer-
chant marine group:
From the Navy Department.
The photographic Office.
Naval Observatory.
From the War Department.
Great Lakes Survey.
Inland Waterways Corporation.
Supervisor of New York Harbor.
Independent establishments
United States Shipping Board Emer-
gency Fleet Corporation.
Photographic Office.
The photographic Office of the Navy
Department was established by the act
of June 81. 1866. It's functions COM
prise topographic and photographic
surveys in foreign waters and on the
high seas; the collection and dissent
nation of photographic and naviga-
tional information and data; prepara-
tion and printing by its own personnel
and with its own equipment. of maps
and charts relating to and required in
navigation, including confidential, stra-
tegical, and tactical charts required for
naval operations and maneuvers: the
preparation and issue of sailing direc-
tions (pilots), light list, pilot charts,
navigational manuals. periodicals. and
radio broadcasts for the use OF all yes
sells of the United States and for the
benefit and use of navigation generally; !;
the furnishing Of the foregoing to the
Navy and other public services, and
the sale to the mercantile marine of
all nations and to the general public,
at the cost of printing and paper.
1t maintains intimate relations with
the photographic offices Of all foreign
countries and with the International
photographic Bureau. Monaco, and
Through branch photographic offices
and sales agents. With mariners and
the general public.
The photographic Office prepares spe-
cial charts for the use of aviators, COW
ering the coastal areas of the United
States and foreign countries; dissent
mates through notices to aviators infor-
nation relative to aids to aerial navi-
cation and aviation facilities; prepares
and publishes plotting sheets, plotting
instruments and navigational tables es-
pecially designed for aviation use, and
carries out research into the science OF
aerial navigation.
The photographic Office co-operates
with the National Academy Of Sciences
by conducting research work in ocean
ography. especially in Soundings and
in the collection of temperatures Of the
surface of the sea.
The functions of the Coast and Geo
detic Survey in the Department Of Com
those of the photographic Office of the
Navy, except that the activities of the
Coast and Geodetic Survey are con-
fined to the coasts of the United States
and its insular possessions whereas the
work of the photographic Office Is
largely confined to foreign waters and
on the high seas. A large portion of
the data used by the photographic
Office is obtained from foreign coun-
tries In exchange for similar informa-
ton with respect to United States
possessions.
The Navy photographic Office and
the Coast and Geodetic Survey each
maintains separate printing and litho-
graphic plants for the production of
their charts. There seems to be no log
1cal reason for the maintenance OF
these separate plants in two different
Federal establishments which perform
the same major functions although in a
different field Of operation.
The photographic Office should con-
tinue to render the same service to the
Navy that it does under the present
arrangement, and the Navy should con-
tinue to gather and furnish the same
data to the Department of Commerce
for use in the preparation and correc-
tion Of charts and other nautical in
formation as it now furnishes the Hy-
geographic Office.
1t is proposed to transfer the Hydro
graphic Office from the Navy Depart
ment to the Coast and Geodetic Survey
in the Department of Commerce, and
it is recommended that legislation be
enacted to abolish the photographic
Office and vest its powers and duties in
the Coast and Geodetic Survey.
Great Lakes Survey.
The survey Of northern and north
western lakes is conducted by the
| United States Lake Survey Office, De-
troit, Mich. The work is under the
direction of the ONCE of the Chief of
Engineers of the War Department and
the appropriation is carried under the
heading of Rivers and Harbors." For
the fiscal year 1888 the wording in the
appropriation act is as follows:
For survey of northern and north
western lakes, and other boundary and
connecting waters as heretofore au-
thorized, including the preparation, cor
rection, printing. and issuing of charts
and bulletins and the investigation of
lake levels"
The survey Of northern and north
western lakes covers the American
waters of the Great Lakes and their
connecting and outflow rivers from st.
Regis, on the st. Lawrence River, to
the heads Of Lakes Michigan and Supe-
rior; the natural navigable waters of
the New York State canals; Lake
Champlain, and Lake of the Woods
and other boundary and connecting
waters between said lake and Lake
Superior. The operations have also