The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-17

WASHINGTON, d. O., July l6.-A SEN
sation has been produced in scientific
circles here, and probably will be else
where, by the announcement Of certain
certain changes that have been ordered
in the administration OF the United
States weather bureau by Mr.. Morton,
President Cleyeland's secretary OF agrl-
culture. This obscure local statesman
from Nebraska, signalized his advent
to position in the national govern
ment by an attempt to remove Prof.
Mark Harrington, the present chief OF
the bureau; but as there had been no
thought of treating the heads Of the
coast survey, geological survey, or nau-
tical almanac office as offensive partt-
sans, it was necessary to find other os.
tensible reasons for the movement
against Professor Harrington.
Certain petty charges Of careless ad-
ministration were therefore trumped
up, and an investigation was ordered.
Although this inquiry was conducted
in a grossly unfair way, and the inquis-
itor received private instructions to
make his report more damaging than
he had first intended, the plot failed.
Professor Harrington's direct appeal to
the President, and the exposure OF tho
scheme by Republican papers, baked
Mr.. Morton, and a formal exoneration
followed.
It is due to the chief OF this bureau to
add that In the two years Of his admin
istration he has conducted the service
more economically than it has ever been
conducted before, has extended Its
benefits to a large number oi people,
especially farmers, not previously
reached, and has sensibly lessened, II
he has not entirely overcome the con-
tempt which the press and people,
somewhat foolishly, to be sure, had
been evincing for official forecasts for
aeveral years prior to the transfer OF
this work from the war department to
q civilian basis, July l, 1901.
Foiled in his original campaign, how
ever, Mr.. Morton has now renewed the
assault along new line. He has un-
dertaken to cripple the service mater
tally by reducing the scientific staff Of
tho central Office and cutting off all
scientific research. The salary OF that
veteran scientist OF international repu-
ton, Professor Cleveland Able, IL re-
duced from $4,000 to $4,000, and brutal
letter has been sent to him by secre.
tary Morton with the evident design OF
having him resign; Professors Barnes
and Russell are dismissed altogether,
and Professors Bigelow, HaSen, and
Marvin, Major Dunwoody, and Ser.
geant Garriott, all investigators of
marked ability in special lines, are for
hidden to do anything but m0ke daily
forecasts.
The enormity OF this proceeding will
be more distinctly perceived when the
following facts are recalled: No science,
except possibly medicine, has such a
direct relation to human welfare as
meteorology, and even that exception
does not touch the interests oil so many
people in one day as do weather fore
casts; meteorology is really in its in
fancy as a science and great many
profound problems yet need to be
solved in order to give its practical ap-
plications their fullest value and before
forecasts can be what they ought to be-.
All or nearly all OF tho foreign weather
services distinctly encourage research
into tho fundamental laws Of observed
weather phenomena; and from its
foundation in 1870 until now the Unit
ed States weather bureau has led the
world in this direction, having called to
its assistance, either temporarily OF
permanently, such illustrious scientists
as Cleveland Able, Elias Loomis and
William Ferrel, and recruited this
corps with men OF marked capacity,
like Frank Waldo, II. Allen Hazen,
John P. Finley, Thomas Russell and