Three classes of appointments are made on the Survey. The statute provides
that "the scientific employes of the Geological Survey shall be selected
by the Director, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Interior,
exclusively for their qualifications as professional experts." The
provisions of this statute apply to all those cases where scientific men
are employed who have established a reputation, and in asking for their
appointment the Director specifically states his reasons, setting forth
the work in which the person is to be employed, together with his
qualifications, especially enumerating and characterizing his published
works. On such recommendations appointments are invariably made. Young men
who have not established a reputation in scientific research are selected
through the agency of the Civil Service Commission on special examination,
the papers for which are prepared in the Geological Survey. About one-half
of the employes, however, are temporary, being engaged for services
lasting for a few days or a few months only, largely in the field, and
coming under two classes: Skilled laborers and common laborers. Such
persons are employed by the Director or by the heads of divisions, and are
discharged from the service when no longer needed. It will be seen that
the Director is responsible for the selection of the employes, directly
for those whom he recommends for appointment, and indirectly for those
selected by the Civil Service Commission, as he permanently retains in the
work. If, then, improper persons are employed, it is wholly the Director's
fault.
The appropriations made for the Geological Survey for the fiscal year
ending June 30, 1885, aggregate the sum of $504,040. This sum does not
include the amount appropriated for ethnologic researches--$40,000. Nor
are the expenses for engraving and printing paid for from the above
appropriations, but from appropriations made for the work under the
direction of the public printer. It is estimated that the amount needed
for engraving and printing for the same fiscal year will exceed $200,000.