Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-24

Back to Army Onicers-Bears Down Heav-
lily on Prof Harrington-A Surprise.
The climax to the weather bureau investiga-
ton has come. This afternoon Assistant At
torney General Colby, who has conducted the
investigation into the charges made by ]. B.
mclaughlin, sent his report to Secretary Nor
ton and at the same time sent a
copy to Prof. Harrington, against whom the
charges we're mainly leveled. Gen. Colby said
TINS afternoon in speaking Of the report that
there had been an immense mass OF testimony
to go through and that it had been examined
carefully and thoroughly. The report was the
The letter which Gen. Colby sent to Prof
Harrington with his report was distinctly to
the point. 1t said:
by direction of the honorable the Secretary
OF Agriculture. L transmit herewith for your
consideration copy of my report on the inves-
ugation into the charges against the manage
ment OF the weather bureau. Unless YOU seri-
ously object. shall follow the example set
by You IN your communications upon the SUBJ
Ject TO the Secretary and furnish copies of
such report for publication. 1 shall also be
pleased to receive any further suggestions you
may choose to make relative to the matters
considered"
THE REPORT A SURPRISE
Gen. Colby's report will undoubtedly prove
a surprise to all who listened to the testimony
throughout the investigation. IT bears down
heavily on several of the charges. The gist of
the report is contained in the postscript. which
practically advises that the bureau be returned
to army control
have the honor to report that, pursuant
to your directions, 1 have investigated
the charges against the management of the
weather bureau. Many witnesses were exam
lned, personal letters, statements and affidavits
were put in evidence by the several par
ties interested, files and documents were
obtained from official sources and every reason
able means used TO make the investigation as
thorough as possible. The proceedings were
public at all times, the witnesses were re-
quired to testify under oath. and the testi-
mony was taken down by a stenographer whose
typewriter report thereof and all papers, COM
munications and documents relating to such
Investigation are returned herewith for your
information
THE CRANE CASE.
The following facts are disclosed by the ev-
idence: The chief of the weather bureau on
March Is. 1898, recommended to the Secretary
of Agriculture for promotion A Z.
Crane, an observer stationed at Nor
felix, Va. as an officer of high
standing and especially worthy Of advancement
At the time of such recommendation there were
ulallN Olutr cuHloNts III Tue same Class OF
higher standing and more deserving, as shown
by the records of the bureau. whose claims for
promotion were ignored when they should have
been brought to the attention of the Secretary
and first considered.
HENRY 8. NICHOLS.
The chief of the weather bureau shielded
and retained in Office, to the detri-
ment of the public service, Henry s.
Nichols, an incompetent and unworthy official
employed as assistant observer At the Norfolk
station. This officer is shown to have been guilty
of insubordination and inattention to duties,
and also to have been addicted to the excessive
use of cigarettes and intoxicating liquors.
Although Mr.. Nichols condition and in
efficiency had been officially reported from
time to time for some months, no statement
thereof was made to the Secretary Of AgricuI-
ture by the chief Of the bureau, and no action
was taken for his removal until the tendency of
this investigation, when his dismissal was rec
commended.
TITUS s. TOWNSEND.
The chief Of the weather bureau shielded
and retained in Office. to the detriment OF the
public service, Titus s. Townsend. an incom-
petent and unworthy official employed as
assistant observer at Pixies Peak and Col
orado Springs. This officer had been charged
with drunkenness and with forging the name
Of c. b. Spencer, displayman, upon a check
or voucher and obtaining the money thereon,
and had been discharged without character
from the signal service prior to his appointment
in the weather bureau. Since his present
employment Mr.. Townsend has been addicted
to the excessive use of intoxicating liquors. sub
ject to periodic debauches. and has willfully
neglected his official duties. While on
duty at the important stations named he
has deserted his post without notice or
leave, and remained absent for several days at
a time, to the great injury of the service. This
officer is a son OF Theodore F. Townsend, an
inspector in the weather bureau. and was
appointed upon the recommendation Of the
chief of the bureau with knowledge OF his
former record in the signal service. No reports
of this officers unworthiness or official mis-
conduct have been furnished the Secretary of
Agriculture.
MALCOLM Il. PERRY.
The chief Of the weather bureau shielded
and retained in o flee, to the detriment Of the
public service, Malcolm II. Perry, an incompe-
tent and unworthy official employed as
observer at Palestine. Texas. This
officer has been guilty of manufacturing and
sending from his station reports of false and
forged observations OF material facts AID data,
upon which weather forecasts were to be made
and which were to be used as basis for
scientific investigation and official ac-
ton. Mr.. Perry was suspended for some
months, after the discovery of his offense
his case investigated, guilt established and
LIS uicuiiscdi iTotl Tue Service recommended
by the chief OF the bureau. The former Sec
Rotary OF Agriculture refused to dishonorably
discharge this officer from the service
without fair hearing, and directed the chief
of the weather bureau to give him SUCH
and thereafter report the case to the Secre-
tary for further action. An examination, or
hearing, was had under authority Of the
chief Of the bureau. and the inspector acting
in that behalf failed, according to the written
statement of tie chief, to find anything in the
. harges preferred or in the conduct Of Mr.
Ferry that would excuse him or palliate the
offense." No report was thereafter made
to the former Secretary of Agriculture,
and. as testified to by him in the present in
vestigation, whatever action NAV have been
taken after the suspension Of Mr.. Perry was
taken by the chief of the weather bureau ION
his own responsibility and without reporting
the matter further to the Secretary OF Agri-
culture" However. on March z, 1898, Mr.
Perry was reinstated by the chief Of the
weather bureau, without any report being made
in regard thereto or any information vhatso-
ever being given in that behalf to the present
Secretary Of Agriculture.
EXPERT CoMPrLERS
A number of persons were appointed as
''expert compilers" in the weather bureau, under
authority Of an act Of Congress making appro-
priations for the Department Of Agriculture,
approved July 6, 1892, "for investigations
on the relations of climate to organic
life, among whom may be mentioned Francis
z. Madden, Belle T. Plummer. Mrs. b C.
Baker and others. These persons were ap-