Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-22

specific as to dates. The two Senators
of his state and the Representative from his
district called at nv Office and guaranteed his
honesty. To be quite sure sent an inspector
| to his station and he reported that at least
| Perry bad the confidence OF the best
citizens OF the place. At the same time
the Representative of his district reported
to me that Perry and Mclaughlin had
feud dating from many years back.
Finally this Representative transmitted to
me letter from Perry promising greater care
and assuring me that he was devoted to the in
terests Of the service. After some weeks Of
suspension I reinstated Perry, though Nc
Laughlin objected While used Mclaughlin
as an adviser did not feel it incumbent upon
me to always follow his advice. This charge
concludes with the indefinite words "and others"
IL the names thus included are given to me now
l will respond specifically; but protest against
the admission Of any evidence under language
no court would permit
THE EXPERT coMPrLERs."
III. In the matter Of expert compilers"
would say that the only persons carrying this
title on their commissions are temporary en-
ployes, engaged on an investigation specially
authorized by Congress. 1 have represented
on every proper occasion the character of work
required. have myself been permitted to des-
ignate only two of these employees and these
two (Messrs. Flint and Jones) have entirely JUS
titled my recomme udatiou. As to the three
specified in the charges. the first was continued
by the Secretary Of Agriculture, notwithstand-
ing my verbal recommendation to the con-
trary. The second worked but a few days and
voluntarily withdrew, and the third was con-
tinued recently by yourself. My written offer
to make specific recommendations concerning
those to be continued was not accepted by you.
l repeat my protest against the use Of the
de sam Ofh in chs oil
~. The language OF this charge is too in
definite TO admit of specific response. The
names of the messengers and laborers involved
are not given. II they were not known this
charge could not have been fairly formulated.
If they were known these names were unfairly
withheld. 1t happens occasionally that an am
bilious young messenger or some poor
laborer with family to support at
tempts to tamiliarize himself with
the work OF copyist i'll order to prepare for
promotion. Only three such cases have oc-
CURED to my knowledge. In two it was my
painful duty to promptly order discontinuance
when the matter was brought to my attention.
The third case had the honor to refer to you
Yesterday (Aprii 2o) before these charges were
received.
In case have I authorized or approved the
payment of travelling or hotel expenses Of en-
ployes or officers when not engaged on public
business. Capt. Israel W. Stone informed me
some months ago that he would visit his home
IN eastern Kansas. going via Chicago. Topeka,
Lawrence and Kansas City. at each of which
there were matters Of public interest on which
needed r;her information. In two of these cases
the disbursing officer was the best judge. the
questions related to property. At the other
two he was quite competent to perform the
work wished done and instructed him that he
was to charge the government only for the de-
tours from his route and the stopovers neces-
sary to transact the public business required.
and this was done. As consequence | had
this public business done at about one-fourth
of the expense to the government which would
have been necessary had l sent All inspector
The proper reports have been rendered. 1
protest against the use of the words land other
employees
THE CHARGE OF FAvoRITIsM.
The words of this charge are so general as to
indicate a lack of belief in them by their form
ulator. If they had any foundation they could
have been made specific. l have not exercised
favoritism. The efficiency of the bureau has
been largely increased, as | will show in my
concluding statement. There has been no NAL
administration except as hereinafter specified,
and for that am not responsible. There has been
no improper diversion Of public funds. Our
accounts passed the treasury with a disallow-
ance of only $40. 80 lin disbursement of about
5000, 0O0) the first year and have no reason to
hlnk it will be different in the present year.
The case OF INSTRUMENTATION to which / re-
ferred is as follows: ! make this statement not
in impeachment Of my superior but solely for
my own defense. Among the officials of this
bureau authorized in the appropriation bills is
an executive officer with annual salary Of
50. 500. From the very first have considered
this Official unnecessary and have so recon-
mended to the Secretary of Agriculture. October
3, 1892. an appointment was made to this
place. tentatively to ascertain if q clear and
necessary field of work could not be found for
this official. The gentleman appointed to
the place as well as myself became convinced
by a trial of about six months that the place was
unnecessary. l therefore addressed you
letter on March q, 1898. recon-
mending that this place be abolished and
placed in your hands the resignation of
the gentleman who occupied it, This resigna-
ton took effect by your order April 3. and on
April a new appointee appeared with your
commission dated April 8. This officer has
been set by me to learn the workings Of the
bureau. but he is not needed for the successful
prosecution Of our work.
THE EFFICIENCY OF THE BUREAU
will now make some statements bearing on
the efficiency of my administration of the
bureau. When j took charge of it on July l.,
1891. proposed for myself four lines OF ad-
vance: l. To at once rescue the weather bureau
from the public and scientific contempt into
which it had fallen in the latter part OF
A'o 1ulo COu-
tempt had gone SO far that not long
| before the transfer federal Judge
in Detroit had seen fit to make merry of il from
the bench. This task was soon accomplished
and abundant evidence of its accomplishment
can be found in the concentrations Of the
press. Since the transfer no attack had been
made on the efficiency of the bureau by
reputable newspapers until in the latter
part of March certain unfounded and I'M
just charges began to be circulated in the
partisan press. 2. To follow the instruc-
ton of Congress in extending the benefits Of
the agricultural classes That this is being
successfully ccomplished is shown in nv
Especial report" and in many documents Oh
file in the Weather bureau. The growth of the
bureau in this direction il indicated in the fol-
lowing figures, to show it completely would
take pamphlet Of fifty pages:
Statement showing extension of the work Of
the weather bureau since its transfer from the
War Department to the Department OF Agri-
culture:
Time OF At
Transfer. Present
Edition Of National Crop Bull
letlu l,ZW S,Z6O
Number Of crop correspond
ents ............ Z,ZOU 300
Number of state weather SER
vices organized ..... 20 ~
Number of voluntary observers 1000 2,4OO
Stations displaying weather
and temperature signals 500 us 275O
8. To improve the forecasts and to place
| them within the reach Of every one interested