Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-02
MIR. SMITHS BOARDERS.
An UnprOductive Day in the Weather
Bureau Investigation.

bureau Inv6et1Gat1On.
MIGHT HAVE BEEN PAID TOO MUCH FOR BOARD
AHMED BY M'LAUGHLIN-THE CHARGE OF
FAvORITIsM.
The long-drawn-out investigation Of the
affairs Of the weather bureau was continued
yesterday afternoon at the Agricultural Depart
ment. The session lasted for couple Of hours
but failed to bring out anything sensational or
particularly interesting. Mr.. J. B. Mclaughlin,
whose letter first started the investigation. was
on the stand for awhile. but about the most
important matter he dealt with in his story
was the price Of board in Washington. He was
Of the opinion that $3.50 per day was an ex-
cessive price, and that it was indiscreet for the
chief clerk of the bureau to take for boarders
forecast officials who were in Washington for a
couple Of months on special duty at the weather
bureau.
WHAT MR.. MLAUGHLIN WANTED TO SHOW.
The first witness called to the stand was Mr..
H. E. Smith, the chief clerk in the weather
bureau. Mr.. Mclaughlin acted as the ex-
aminer and started to ply the witness with
questions relative to visit on the part Of some
local forecast men to Washington and the
alleged efforts Of the witness to have one or
more Of them come to board with him. Mr..
Perry, for Mr.. Harrington, entered a protest
to the form Of the questions and their purport,
and Gen. Colby spent some little time in trying
to find out what Mclaughlin was driving at. The
latter evidently had number Of written ques-
lions that he desired to put.
In answer to Mr. Perry Gen. Colby said that
he had learned from Mr.. Mclaughlin that some
Of these officials went to board with Smith and
that the government was forced to pay more
than proper amount, rebate being given,
and that Mr.. Harrington was cognizant Of the
| situation. Mr. Perry objected on the ground
that there was nothing said about all this i'll
McIaughlin's letter, and Gen. Colby said he
would ask them himself. with the understand
ing that the testimony might not necessarily go
into the evidence, but he desired to get it all
cleared up at once.
CHIEF CLERK SMITHS TESTIMONY.
In answer to Gen. Colby the witness said that
one Of the forecast officials had boarded with
him, but he refused to state what the price Of
board was, inasmuch it was private trans
action and he had no reason to know that the
board was paid by the government. Finally
he said that he had charged Mr.. Bassler dol
lar a day, which he considered only fair price
for transient board. There was no rebate given
to MIR. Bassler nor to any of the others. Mr..
Smith was very emphatic about this point. He
ulu not KNOW Wnetner the same allowances Tor
expenses were made to the officials when they
were staying elsewhere.
Mr.. Mclaughlin made a statement at this
point to the effect that 1t was not customary for
| the government to pay board for the forecast
officials when they remained 30 long time at
one post. and that this an exceptional case
provided for after they went to board with the
witness. Gen. Colby objected to this the
ground that the statement was evidence, if
| anything, and could not be properly admitted
unless Mclaughlin was under oath.
In crosse examination by Mr.. Perry Mr. Smith
said that he WAS in the habit OF taking board
ers, but they were not confined to forecast
officials. As rule, more was charged for tran
sent than permanent board, but never had any
rebate been paid; of this he was certain.
WHAT MR.. Made HEARD.
Alexander McAdie, a clerk in the weather
bureau, was asked if he was present the
occasion Of an interview between Mclaughlin
and Mr.. Harrington when the former made q
protest about the matter of board but stated
that he remembered no such interview. He
was asked by Mclaughlin if he remembered a
conversation between Mclaughlin and Mr.. Har-
rington in which he spoke Of young Townsend's
past record as protest against Townsends re-
appointment, but Of this also the witness said
he remembered nothing. He did not remem-
Der conversation between Capt. Townsend
and Chief Harrington, in which the former
habit, and suggested his taking the gold cure
1t was private conversation, and he paid no
particular attention to 1t at the time.
Witness said that he had heard rumors against
Townsend as to his being drunk at Pixies Peak,
but had not heard Of his neglecting his duty.
He did not know what the date of this was, but
thought it may have been about March.
Mr.. McAdie was asked by Mr.. Mclaughlin if
he remembered an occasion when Maj. Dun
woody found fault with the forecast work of
H. II. Clayton at Boston. In answer to a oues-
ton from Gen. Colby Mr.. Mclaughlin said
that he desired to show it was a of favorit-
| ism shown to Clayton and that it was called to
the attention OF Chief Harrington but received
no notice at his hands.
"You had better take the stand yourself
| now" said Gen. Colby, land give your own
evidence as to these cases of so-called favorit-
ism. SO that We can know what you are driving
at"
Mr.. M'LAUGHLIN COULDN'T NAME THEM
Mr.. Mclaughlin then began his story by
stating that it not usual to pay the board
of forecast officials for an extended stay, but
that in the case of Bassler and the others bills
for $50 a month for board and S15 for room
rent were presented. He declined to certify
to them himself as chief clerk. he thought
the charges were excessive. He considered
that 800 for board and $40 for a room would
have been ample. and he called the matter to
bills presented by Mrs. Smith and passed on
by Mr.. Smith were certified to by the chief
her brother-in-law.
With reference to the Clayton incident. Mr.
Mclaughlin stated that Clayton was appointed
forecaster at Boston without any previous ex-
perience and that his appointment was looked
upon in the service as a case of favoritism on
the part of Mr.. Harrington.
"Who considered it a case OF favoritism?"
asked Gen. Colby. sharply. "Who said any
thing of the sort? Unless you can name one or
more individuals who said anything of the sort
you have no right to make any such statements,
for there is no way of answering them"
II think Mr.. McAdie said it" answered Mr.
Mclaughlin, "but presume he has forgotten
it"
''You have no right to say anything of that
kind in that way"
Mr.. Perry then took the witness in hand and
asked him if in his March letter he had made
any reference to the Clayton matter.
81 did,"
"By name?"
"No, but by reference
'Mr. Mclaughlin. in the questions you have
suggested to Gen. Colby you imply that Bassler
and the others drew the money from the gov
eminent to pay for their board, and that then
they received a rebate from Mr.. Smith. What
authority have you for any such grave
charges?'
Il made no such CHARGE" said the witness.
This brought about lively colloquv between
Mr. Mclaughlin and Mr.. Perry, in which the
latter tried to get the witness to state what au-
thority he had for making such charges, but he