1897] The New Fish Commissioner 



of his failure to meet the terms of the law. But 

 the new standards were not appreciably higher, 

 as the Fish Commission was listed among the 

 spoils of office. Having some warning of this fact, 

 I went to Mr. McKinley and made a personal ap- 

 peal for the selection of some one both of scientific 

 standing and in touch with fishery interests. The 

 President seemed impressed by my appeal, but at 

 last he said: "The fact is, Dr. Jordan, I have prom- 

 ised that place to Steve Elkins." 



In due time, therefore, Senator Elkins' man, Bowers 

 Mr. George M. Bowers of West Virginia, was ap- 

 pointed. Strangely enough, however, five years 

 later (my opinion being asked) I advised President 

 Roosevelt and Secretary Oscar S. Straus to retain 

 him. For although a local politician with no knowl- 

 edge whatever of fisheries, Bowers had tact as well 

 as administrative ability. He accordingly sur- 

 rounded himself with good men from whom he was 

 always ready to take advice, as well as from two 

 others, Alexander Agassiz and myself. During his 

 administration, Dr. Hugh M. Smith served as As- 

 sistant Commissioner and Evermann as chief Scien- 

 tific Expert, having charge later of fishery interests 

 in Alaska. 



Elkins was an active political figure in those days, "Stae 

 a "Stalwart" as the phrase went, a big, jolly, ro- Elkins 

 bust fellow not troubled with idealism. One of his 

 former secretaries, a slender, wiry young man, told 

 me of an amusing little incident which occurred 

 when he was traveling on the Senator's railway pass; 

 the train conductor having looked at the card and 

 then at him, said: "Lord, Steve, how you have 

 swunk!" Which reminds me of a similar story re- 



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