Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-10
THE INVESTIGATION ENDED.
Close Of the Testimony i'm the Weather
Bureau Inquiry.

PROF. HARRINGTON AND MLAuaHLIN BOTH ON
THE STAND ToDAY-A SIGNIFICANT CONVERSE
rIoS JUST BEFORE THE cLosISa-eES. ooLBy's
REAL WORK NOW BEGINS.
With a fair show Of finishing the affair
TODAY the weather bureau investigation started
off at IL o'clock General Colby handed
around to be read, before any testi-
mony was taken. an affidavit which
Mrs. d. C. Baker. the much talked OF
expert compiler. mad filed with nun.
The affidavit was from w. K hug
giles and ]. NJ Dick, who swore that
they were well versed in mathematics
and that they on March i, 1898, had examined
certain compilations made by Mrs Baker ana
found them accurate in every respect ,..,
This affidavit was put in evidence and niue
discussion followed. and Gen. Colby stated tnat
SO far as he could see no one denied
that these compilers were not expert
scientific persons and he did not think IL
necessary to go in to further testimony on the
subject. as was suggested by Mr.. Mclaughlin.
PROF. HARRINGToNs EXAMINATION RESUMED.
The examination of Prot. Harrington was
then continued: In regard to Townshend
the witness testified that where a man went on
a single spree he endeavored to cure the
man. Townshend had only lapsed once and
otherwise his record had been exceptionable
and witness thought he was entirely reformed.
Gen. Colby branched to the Perry case,
which Gen. Colby said he deemed the most
serious of all the charges and q very serious
crime. He wished to know just where the
responsibility for reinstating q man guilty of
forging observations rested. Prof. Earring
ton said that he had fully inyesti-
gated the charges against Perry
riculture with the recommendation for Perry's
dismissal Gen. Rusk had said that
this was an essentially criminal case,
and on the evidence presented he
could not allow the man to be dismissed. There
were then two courses open. to Law the case
before the President or to follow the directions
Of his chief.
He made no further investigation because he
had completed his INVESTIGATION and come to his
conclusions He had a great deal Of confidence
in Secretary Rusk's horse sense.
DIDN'T WANT A ROW.
Gen. Colby-"Then you thought tina. ii was
q matter of reinstating Perry or having q row
and YOU did not think the occasion required
row?''
Prof Harrington-"That is it."
The fourth charge came in for some
further questions This charge relates
to the employment Of laborers and
messengers on clerical work. As on
his direct testimony, Prof Harrington
spoke of the three cases. Miss Dant. Miss Law
ton and Miss Rigby, which have been men
toned and again expressed his opinion that
these ladies did aborer or messenger work.
Mr. Smith followed with q number of ques-
| tons written out by Mr.. Mclaughlin. In
| regard to Capt. Stoves inspection trip, Prot.
Harrington testified that Capt. Stowe was sent to
| do this work because he Was the best man.
! Formal instructions in writing were issued
afterward In order TO complete the
record. II Mr.. Mclaughlin did not know Of
| the trip IL was q mere accident
MLAuoHLIN RECOMMENDED TowSsHESD.
In regard to young Townshend, there was no
connection between Capt. Townshend's
asking that his son be appointed
In the fall The appointment made
because Mclaughlin had said that
/ Townsheud was the man for Pixies Peak.
ut was the duty" said the witness. ''of
Mclaughlin to give any information he poe
sessed OF Townshend's record. So fur from
doing this ne had recommended him strongly ~
proper man for Pixies Peak" Several
questions follow ed TO draw out the information
! that to get drunk while on the station 1t Pixies
Peak would have been peculiarly disastrous to
| the service.
The witness, however. again stated tina,
| Townshend was not In the habit OF getting
drunk, aud the ono occasion had been not ii
Pixies Peak, but at Colorado Springs.
In answer to the question OF whether
he considered Townshend o proper man fol-
tho service, the Witness ntetco IN y Scucbaa
that he did 1t was never In any
Way proved that forgery had bees
committed and the oiense. whatever IL was
had been condoned by his predecessor, - moth
ing appeared on the record.
M'LAuauL,S's PRIVATE LHrTEn.
At this point there was a difference Of opIuic,
a. 20 whether q private letter sent to Nc
Laughiin by Observer Myers In regard Il
Town-hend had ever been shown to Prof
Harrington. Prof. Harrington denie'
marked that from this document Nc
Lrushlin's private correspondence was mor
dangerous than he had thought Thl
letter iutimates that Towashend had been II
the habi, OF getting drunk. Prof. Harrington
| said that this had never been brough
| TO his attention until this morning. and that OF
the face of the letter /, changed somewhat II
basis On which Towashend stood.
The poor much-testifed-about expert com
pliers were dragged into the affair. and ~ nun
ber OF Questions were asked without alterin
the basis on which these ladies' and gentleme;
, have stood. Prof. Harrington test;ae
that he had warned Lieut. Pursee
agains, laying Mrs. Bakers case befor
the Secre,a-5. because he (PursselD woui
! have been considered busybody and NEEDLE
, in things y hich did not concern him.
. The question OF the friction between Nc
| Iaughln ana Oapt. Stone arose, anu iSol
Harrington told of the little auarrels betwee
, the two and Mr.. Mclaughlin bande
in an ironical memoranda from ston
in which he uses the expression, referring Z
Mclaughlin. ''you must be losing your nlnd. y
, Mr. Mclaughlin SAID be wanted I
show where this friction commenced
, This memoranda Prof. Harrington tc
|, titled he thought he had torn u
and thrown In the waste basket, from which
intipiated IL had been taken out and paste
| together.
. After lunch there was . pause for some mif
. utes while waiting for Official Stenographs
. Drew. VINO. without any extra pay, has labore
| necessarily on these Investigations. Durin
!; the wait Gen. Colby and Prot. Harrington dr
4 cussed botany.
NIAUoHLIN MAKES MORE srArEMkSrA
4 On resuming the investigation Mr.. NJ
| Laughlin went on the stand and made con
further statements. He told of the chang
!. which had been made in the duties Of {!
;, executive division. Prof. Harrington" ga
u MIR. Mclaughlin, had never shown q
n slightest annoyance at ais actions" N
Mclaughlin ssid ,aat witnesses HI
p testified that be WINS ''k.ckc-" and he prid
Ii himself on being Kicker on the points tes
le ned to, such a. examining vouchers. the Per
re case and others. In regard - {
testimony Of Prof. Harrington tina: he b
* once saved McLsughiin's official head, !;
es witness testified that the affair
only another instance of favoritism.