March 15, 1955 
Dear Waldo: 
I realy ought to give you h — ^1 for not sending in that weekly wireless 
report that you w^re suppose to furnish. Of course we knew that you were all 
right but Alvena has, I know, spent some mighty anxious moments because we did 
not hear from you more frequently. I'll give you a punch in the nose for it when 
you get back. 
The reclassification proposition turned me down flatter than a pancake 
and I guess that this time it is final. As you have probably heard bg this time 
there is a move on foot to give us a further cut in salary. It may, in fact, be 
in effect by the time this reaches you. I fear that all of my news will be old by 
the time you get it. If not, you will be pleased to learn that on Johnson's 
birthday Paul dredged up a wonderful new species which he immediately named 
Johnson! . Just how he know that it was a new species in the absence of literature 
and comparative new material, God only knows. Friedmann advances the opinion that 
he took the shell with him with the idea in mind of springing it at the proper 
time. You may also have heard that he found a 9 mile deep aff the coast of Porto 
Rico but had to fill it up again to five miles when too much surprise was expressed 
in scientific circles. The fault, of course, was due not to him but to a garbled 
radio or telegraphic report. He is due here at Washington in the yacht this week, 
1 believe, and I have had several inquiries from the Customs people about the ship 
and its personnel. I was asked particularly if there were any passengers and re- 
ported a man and two daughters, who I understand were aboard. I hope they are 
still virtuous. 
There is really ^o specific news. Unquestionably there are going to be 
some consolidations in Government service, the one most frequently mentioned being 
a consolidation of the Shipping Board, Coast & Geodetic Survey, Hydrographic 
Office, and other related bureaus. Maybe your friend Marma will be affected. 
Kellers blew in on the 2nd of March to try to get things started for the’ next 
Ellipse Eixpedition but with no success. He told me that ^he Naval Observatory 
people had decided not even to ask for an appropriation, in view of existing con- 
ditions. He has been unable to come doi:vn to the Museum before because he is now 
the sole recruiting officer for the whole Nevf England states and is kept very 
busy. 
You have probably been advised that Jim Traylor died suddenly- at office. 
I imagine no steps vdll be taken toward filling his position since he was more or 
less of a pensioner. Moreover, the S.I. has been hit pretty hard by the depression 
and they are pinching pennies wherever possible, 
remarks 
Your next door neighbor is still rusliing the Library lady and humerous 
are sometimes made to the apparent strain he is under and to the possibility of 
over induligence in matrimony'^ before the ceremony is responsible. Naturally I 
don't subscribe to this myself but it makes a good joke. It cannot be denied, 
however, that the old man looks it. 
