746 
entire period of the existence of the Ob- 
servatory. The hope is expressed that 
under an improved system the Observa- 
tory will attain and hold that high stand- 
ing which should be expected of it, thus 
clearly intimating that this high standing 
does not belong to the past or present. 
What will happen if something effective is 
not done is stated very plainly. At the 
same time there is no reflection on any per- 
son or any authority. 
The second feature of the proposed plan 
is the appointment of a Board of Visitors 
so organized as to secure efficiency. The 
great difficulty in the past has been that, 
although attempts have from time to time 
been made to improve the administration, 
there has been no authority to decide and 
report whether any real improvement had 
been effected. The proposed Board, con- 
taining as it does six astronomers of high 
professional standing, has to report at least 
annually on the efficiency with which the 
scientific work is prosecuted. If this work 
is in any way neglected, such a board will 
surely discover the reason and report 
what measures are necessary to insure 
success. 
The third feature to which we refer 
guards against a result which has more 
than any other cause tended to weaken 
the efforts made in favor of reform. The 
fear has constantly been held forth that, in 
the event of a civilian organization being 
introduced, appointments would be made 
This has been 
one of the favorite arguments against re- 
through political influence. 
form. The plan guards against this, by 
having the principal officers recommended 
SCIENCE. 
[N. S. Von. X. No. 256. 
to the appointing power by the Board of 
Visitors. One feature of the proceedings 
in making such nominations, shows a re- 
markably clear insight into the conditions 
of the case : 
“The recommendations shall be deter- 
mined only by a majority vote of the 
members present at a regularly called 
meeting of the Board in the city of Wash- 
ington.” 
The great difficulty in the way of making 
the best nomination lies in the absence of 
discussion of the merits of the several can- 
didates. We doubt not that, at such a 
meeting of the Board, the merits of every 
possible candidate would be discussed in 
the freest and fullest manner. In this way 
the best attainable result will be reached. 
Minor defects in the report could be 
pointed out ; but it might show a failure to 
appreciate the general excellence of the 
plan to consider these defects in detail. 
The 
powers of the proposed astronomical di- 
Two, however, may be mentioned. 
rector are not defined. The question is 
thus left open whether the present system 
in which the director has all the respon- 
sibility for the astronomical work and no 
real power is to be continued. 
Only one nomination to each office is 
provided for. This may be objected to as 
not leaving sufficient discretion to the ap- 
pointing power. The French plan, on 
which two nominations to each office are 
made, the order of choice being indicated, 
seems to us preferable. The number might 
even be extended to three. As a general 
rule it might be expected that the appoint- 
ing power would select the candidate pre- 
