The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-04-21
ROBBED UNCLE SAM.
Eight Hundred Thermometers Filched
from the Weather Bureau-R0t-
ten from Top to Bottom.
Everything "Cabbaged" by an Under.
strapper Who Loaned Money
to His Superior Officers.

WASHINGTON, April IT, Secretary
Morton this afternoon received the re-
port of Assistant Attorney General
Colby who conducted the investigation
into the charges of illegal and fraudu-
lent disposal of public property in the
weather bureau. The secretary an
nounced that he would take the matter
under advsement. The recommeIda-
tions are as follows: The immediate
discharge of officials and employees guilty
Of theft or embezzlement, or unauthor-
lied sale of government property and
their prosecution criminally and civilly.
The entire reorganization of the execu-
tive management and control of the
bureau. That no government property
be loaned out or taken from the de-
partment for private purposes under
any circumstances whatever, and no
property to be taken for official use ex-
, cept upon requisition duly signed and
approvedEand for which a receipt is
given; that pl rperty carried on the rolls
of the bureau can be sold only at public
auction after advertisement That the
practice of loaning money now prevail
ing in the weather bureau between en-
ployes and officers, anu especially by
those of inferior rank to their superiors
in official position, be absolutely pro-
hibited.
Among the principal findings Of fact
by the assistant attorney general were
these: That in February, 1893, mum
Der OF brass and iron mouldings, exceed
ing $50 in value, were sold to f. +. Bran
non, captain of the watch, without legal
authority, and no return made therefor.
That a number of yards of carpet and
other articles belonging to the govern
ment we're disposed of to said Brannon
and no returns made That John j.
Ryan. an employe of the bureau, had in
the cellar Of his house in February. 1893,
a quantity of new government property.
That large new pieces of linoleum pro-
cured for use in the bureau were during
| the year 1892 taken therefrom and dis
posed of by employees Of the government
| without authority and no return made
That many articles of property belonging
to the government such as tpye, station
cry, oihce supplies, furniture, bound rec
ord books, chemical materials and over
800 thermometers were taken therefrom
in the months of July and August. 1892,
disposed of without legal authority and
no returns therefor made, and that five
carpets complete for rooms of undeter-
mined dimensions and seventy eight
measured carpets have entirely disap-
peared from the weather bureau and
none Of the officers or employees thereof
could or would furnish any information
regarding such property or account for
its absence.
The evidence shows that property of
The government has been removed from
the bureau from time to time at the
pleasure of employees or officers for use
in private residences without receipts
being given, requisitions or any track
kept of such disposition in the bureau.
1t further appears that captain of the
watch Brannen practiced loaning money
at high rates of interest to officers and
employees of the bureau, both to those
above and below him in rank, thus
placing his superior officers under tipan-
| cial obligations to him.