Evening star., 1885-07-25
THE COAST SURVEY SURPRISE.
Auditor Chen0weth and the Treasury
Commission Conducting an Investiga.
tiOn.

The unexpected suspension and dismissal o
several coast survey Office officials was men
toned In THE STAR last evening.
A STAR reporter to-day visited the Coast Sur
vey building on Capitol Hill, and one Of the
first perSOns encountered within was first Audi
tor Chenoweth. He was apparently very busy
but he consented to give moment or SO to the
STAR represe ntative. Referring to a published
interview with Superintendent Hilgard, where
In ho was quoted as saying that a "sorehead'
who had been dismissed had instigated all the
trouble, Auditor Chenoweth said: 81 know o
no 'sorehead' as the instigator of any charges
This proceeding is entirely in the interest Of the
public service, and for the benefit of the bureau
Now am informed that there is a feeling of un
Idea that this is an assault upon the bureau.
wish you would state that there is no attack
upon the bureau, and that the employees
In fact, what we are doing is for the very pur
pose of benef1ting the bureau. 1t is to make its
work thorough and complete, to make it what
and substantial"
The commission appointed by Secretary
Manning to conduct the investigation of the
coast survey management and expenditures
consists Of Mr Thorne, chiefclerk of the internal
revenue bureau; Mr.. Garrison, deputy first con-
troller, aud Mr.. Huntington. of the Secretary S
office. By order of the President Mr.. Thorne
is placed temporarily I'm charge of the coast
survey, and Mr.. Colonna, of that service, has
the time being. The members of the commis-
sion of inquiry, accompanied by First Auditor
Chen1weth, by authority OF the President, be,
gan their Investigation yesterday. They called
some Of the employees of the bureau before
them. To-day they were At the coast survey
building again early in the morning prosecu-
Auditor Chcnoweth said to THE STAR re-
porter: "The gentlemen of this commission are
the sturdiest integrity. They have engaged in
this work with an eye single to the good of the
public service, and they will perform their
duty faithfully without fear or favor. There is
no prejudice against anybody; nor is there any
disposition to shield anybody. The parties
who have been In charge will be Investigated,
ana all OF the accounts and expenditures will
be thoroughly looked into"
The descent OF the officials with the orders OF
suspension and removal was like thunder
clap in clear sky at the coast survey building.
They had had no intimation of any impending
trouble. 1t is understood that the basis of com.
plaint against the officials is the wastehl use of
public money.
There are, it is understood, several other
bureaus OF the government which the vigiant
1rst auditor intends to subject to rigid inspec.
tiOn.
What Prof. IIilSard Says.
A STAR reporter found Prof. Hilgard at his
residence this morning and questioned him re-
garding his suspension from the supernten-
dency of the coast survey. Prof. Hilgard re-
piled that he did not care to have the matter
settled by the newspapers nor to enter into a
should be settled in the department where it
belongs. If his office was wanted he could
stand dismissal without murmuring, but he
objected to going out under cloud with charges
of Irregularities, which had no foundation. The
books and records of his office, he said, would
speak for themselves, and he was willing To
abide by the result of their thorough investiga-
ton.
Being asked as to the facts connected with his
suspension, Prof. Hilgard said that in June last
he received communication from the first au-
ditOr, stating that charges OF Irregularities had
been made against the management of the
coast survey. These charges were not specific,
but in a general way Included the payment OF
salaries to persons who, performed no services;
allowing unnecessary travt expenses to
those connected with the survey, for the bene-
fit of their families, and unnecessary expendi.
ture OF money appropriated tor the mainte-
nance of the coast survey. No instances OF
the alleged Irregularities were cited, but
Prof Hilgard replied to the first auditor, i'm.
dignantly denying the charges in toto and ask.
ing for specified instances. He received no re.
ply until he was informed of his suspension
from Office yesterday. Prof. Hilgard added
that If the mind of the first auditor had been
poisoned against him he had nothing to do
with that All he asked was a careful investi.
CATION made by those who were competent to
understand the workings of the office and its
necessities. He added that the office is gov
erned by rules and regulations which were re-
nodded by Secretary Sherman only a few
years ago, and all the expenditures are made In