Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-29

vArE coRREsPoSpEScE-A REVIEW OF TIL
EVIDENCE THUS FAR OWEN.
The investigation at the weather bureau yes
terday, after The Stars report closed, could
hardly be called Investigation. 1t was
rather more of verbal duel between Capt
Israel Stone, assistant disbursing officer OF
the bureau. and ex- Chief of tn,
Executive Division Mclaughlin. 1t was cas-,
from the first to see that Carn. Stone and Mr.
Mclaughlin were not on the terms of In timacy
that would warrant one slapping the
other on the shoulder and saying Hello.
I After The STARS report closed the cross.
! examination of Capt. Stone continued BY
/ MIR. Mclaughlin and an effort made to bring
| out the fact that there was something irre2u-
/ lar III the captain trip west. The only thing
irregular about the trip" said Capt. Stone,
t was that it saved the government about
I S100" In answer to question Capt Stone
! said he knew nothing OF another inspector
{ being in the neighborhood of Leavenworth at
the time he was there.
! The investigation then branched back into
! the question of Miss Dant and her
duties under Capt. Stone. Mr.. Mclaughlin
/ asked if Miss Dant did not do tine captain 5
| private correspondence. and this aroused Capt.
| Stones direst rage. No. sir. she does not. "
he said and. moreover, l object mos. seriously
/ to these dastardly iniimaIious." Capt. Stone
/ then intimated that the reason the vouchers
| for his western trip had lot been presented
| quicker on account Of Mr.. Nc
| Laughlin himself. who he claimed was in the
| habit of holding back legitimate vouchers.
| This ended the investigation for the afternoon
and Gen. Colby adjourned the inquiry over
until this afternoon
GEN. CoLBYs FRIENDS INDIGNANT.
Speaking generally about the investiga ton,
it may be said that Gen. Colby's friends are
indignant in the highest degree that Prof. Har-
rington should have seen fit to make a direct
charge against him in the letter to the Secre-
tary of Agriculture.
The charges are utterly absurd" said a
friend of Gen, COlbv's today. 1.-The Senate
committee fully exonerated Gen. Colby. The
investigation which is now before u committee
of the Senate has practically nothing to
do with Gen. Colby 1t is an examination into
the methods of the depredations claims court.
simply for the purpose OF finding out what
legislation is necessary to make things work
more smoothly and in q more equitable man
ner.
WHAT HAS BEEN SHOWN THUS FAB.
The weather bureau investigation has now
gone on for one week, and it may be as well to
examine for a moment what has been brought
out TO sustain the grave charges that have been
made. The first charge reads:
/. Misrepresentation of facts and improper
conduct in the matter of recommendation for
promotion OF A. b. Crane, an observer in the
weather bureau. by Prof. Mark W. Harring-
ton. chief of the bureau 5. ). lockwood
assistant chief and III. L. Smith chief clerk
the main object Of such promotion being the
improper retention in the service of Assistant
Observer Nichols, an inefficient official and
distant connection or relative of the assistant
chief.
On this charge Crane and H. E. Smith have
both testified in the most unmistakabe lam
guage that Niche is had nothing whatever to do
with Cranes promotion. On the other band,
the evidence that there was a collision between
Crane and either Prof. Harrington or Mr.. Rock
wood to promote Crane az a reward for keeping
Nichols Is of the vaguest character.
The second charge reads: The shielding and
retention by Prof. Mark W. Harrington, chief
of the bureau. to the detriment of the public
service. of unworthy and incompetent station
employees of the weather bureau. to wit: Henry
5. Nichols. Titus ). Townshend, Malcolm II.
Perry and others.
On this charge many witnesses have been ex-
amined. That Nichols was an incompetent
man seems to be allowed by all hands, although
the fact that Prof. Harrington's attention
| had been thoroughly called to such incom-
potency seems far from proved. In the
case of Townshend it would seem that Prof
Harrington at the time OF the appointment
| knew nothing of charge of forgery against the
young man. That he kept him after his
neglect of duty was. it is contended. not on
account of favoritism, but from the really
meritorious services which young Townshend
had rendered. With Perry tine case would
seem TO rest on difference of opinion to
how grave offense it to send one false
observation, and when the sender was an espe-
cial proiege of two senators and one repre-
sentative.
THE THIRD CHARGE.
The third charge is as follows: Improper off,
cial conduct of the chief and his subordinates
in the weather bureau. in connection
with the appointment and retention
in the service, in evasion OF violation of
the civil service law. Of persons under the
designation of expert compiers" who were
not such experts and not qualified for such APP
| pointment. to wit: In the cases Of Frances P
| Madden, Belle +. Plummer. Mrs. b. Z. Baker
and others.
The only thing really proved on this charge
| is that Madden Mrs. Plummer and Mrs. Baker
were not expert compilers," but 1t has also
| been shown that they were neither appointed
/ bv Prof. Harrington nor recommended by him.
and on the other hand that In one OF these cases
/ he bad recommended a dismissal.
| The fourth charge states: The appointment
and approval of persons as messengers and
l laborers In the weather bureau whose services
| were not necessary or required therein SUCH
II
I tinc;ively clerical under the chief of the bu-
reau. in direct violation of the civil service
1 rules.
! Little has been testified on this charge.
although the small testimony would seem to
I show that in certain cases persons employed As
4 laborers had occasionally been given work to
do. which might more properly come under the
/ head of clerical work.
| The fifth charge reads:
] The authorization and approval by the chief
and assistant chief of the bureau of the travel
/ ing and hotel expenses of officers and employ es
/ incurred while absent from duty and not en-
gagged in proper work of the department to wit:
In the case of Israel W. Stone assistant dis
bursting officer, and other employees of the
bureau.
On this charge only one witness has been
heard. That lis Capt. Stone, against whom the
/ charge is leveled. On the examination Of Capt
Stones testimony it appears that he spent
| $3.50 In making detours. on Off
cial business, from the direct route
of private trip. If there was anything irreg-
uiar In the vouchers for this official business il
has not been clearly shown as yet
The last charge states:
Favoritism, inefficiency and maladministra-
| ton Of the Office of the chief of the weather
bureau. the retention Of persons in high posi-
lions officially not required III the service and
the improper diversion of the public funds and
OF the special appropriation made for the main
tensnce Of such bureau
This charge still remains for the future an6
the witnesses to prove it have not yet been pro-
duced.