New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-04-23
MORTON STRIKES A SNAG.
PROFESSOR HARRINGTON'S ENERGETIC
PROTEST.
A SNAP INVESTIGATION OF THE WEATHER
BUREAU BY ovERZEALoUs MR.. COLBY.

a
BUREAU BY ovERzEALoUs MR.. COLBY.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRiBUNE1
Washington. April 22.-secre,ary Morton Of the
D,p.rtment OF Agriculture seems TO have struck
s,ar Ever since his arrival In Washington sccre-
cary O, Agriculture Mr. Morton has shown himself
n he "A most ardent and busy reiormer some time
ro I'm order carry out his plans for administrative
orm Secretary Morton applied for and obtained the
scrylces of Assistant Attorney General CODY to con
auet an Investigation OF the Weather Bureau. Mr..
Colbv like Mr. Morton. is Nebraska man. and it Is
asserted that although he has been an active Rcpub
Mean in the past he is extremely anxious 10 retain
his place under the present Democratic Administra
uon-so anxious. indeed. that his zeal for Democratic
reform Is second only TO that OF secretary Morton
himself Mr. Colby. 1t IS pertinent 10 add is the
oeccr whose management as an agent OF the Depart
uent OF Justice on Indian depreciation claims before
90 Conrt OF Claims has been sharply criticised by q
senate Committee appointed investigate taat
subject.
Now as to the Investigation In the Department Of
Agriculture. II appears that Several months ago
Professor Harrington. OF the Weather Bureau, had
oceason 10 suspect that certain Of his subordlnacs
were guilty OF petty stealing. and he began an In
vcstcaion. II taken OF Professor llarringons
hands by secretary Morton and placed under the con
troll OF Mr.. Colby, BY whom II was divided into two
branches. one relating TO the alleged petty stealing
and the other under the head Of political charges.
Tn. branch OF the inquiry concluded several
DAYS ago and report submitted TO Secretary Morton
the second branch OF the Investigation was begun to-
day under the auspices Of Mr.. Colby, whose conduct
in regard 10 the allowance OF Indian depreciation claims
i. subject OF Investigation by Senate Com
mittce.
Professor Harrington has properly declined TO APP
pear. defendant In the matter until Instructed so
t. do by the secretary his Official superior and has been
ignored by the latter, who has Instructed Mr.. Colby
10 so ahead and investigate the charges" Pro
lessor Harr1ngon's letter secretary Morton clearly
sets forth the accusatons-thc socalled political
charees"-and answers them In detail. lie saws:
1t is fact that his report OF that investigation
t. not judicial. You have the testimony then taken
hefore you now. say that II does not justify his
q, port in the following respects While petty :hievinG
has occurred under my administration the report
onits to state that the only certainly guilty of
theft had been for years In the signal Service and
that. OF four other men suspected .hree were an
Inheritance from The military management; It Is not
probable that the transfer OF the Weather Bureau In
July 1891, suddenly changed either the characters
the actions OF these men. General Colby has re-
ported that no returns made for sales OF TIER
mcmeters (meaning thereby the metallic backs OF
broken thermometers) and Of other articles sold
the evidence contradcts him explicitly on this point;
ho has recommended the most sweeping reorganization
Of the Bureau for inadequate reasons thus suggest
Ing that rot remedy. but a revolution. was desired
With respect to myself he has failed 10 report in
NY favor what the testimony before him showed upon
the following points: That the very investigation as to
petty thievihg which he took up had been begun by
me; that soon as learned Of the existence in my
bureau OF the practice-vcry common in Ill Govern
ment departments-of loanng money at usurous rates
OF interest. l at once forbade 1t that under the
military control OF the Bureau 1t was so common a
practice for the officers in charge TO have the
Government property for official use at their bones
that the fact excited comment 1t IS not pre-
oft her off m
myself ever made any private claim TO any OF this
property used II in any way for private purposes
lis soc use to enable us TO better discharge
our duties TO IN" Government during hours which
are generally considered those OF rest The failure
TO make formal recpisition for such articles while
thing to be corrected. hardly Jusites the importance
attached TO ii by General Colby
Professor Harrington's letter fully discloses the
eimsy nature Of the six charges formulated by Mr..
Colby and. among other things. he says:
.mc,crcx ~ NV administration of the Bureau. When
took charge OF it. on July !. 1901 proposed ior
myself The following lines of adyance: n.... ..,
al To at rescue the Weather Bureau rom
the public and scientific contempt into when IL had
e in the latter hG part Of far ha noi long
the transfer Federal lndge in Detroit had Sc seen M
soon accomplished and abundant evidence OF rs ac-
complishment can be found IN the commsnd no non,
made on the efficiency OF the Bureau by reputable
newspapers until In the Inter part OF Marcl, certain
in the partisan press. - l.. ~
" o To follow the instruction Of Congress IN eX-
tending the benefits OF the agricultural classes Iha'
This Is being successfully accomplished Is shown IN
nv special report and in many documents on HE III
the Weather Bureau"
In conclusion Professor Harrington informs secTc-
tarr Morton that he will hold himself In readiness 10
no nrosnnt nm Monday or any time thereafter at any
Investigation Of which he shall have received personal
rotice from the Secretary Tie Investigation Is 10 DE-
continued Monday.
THE LIST OF FOURTH CLASS POSTMASTERs.