Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-26
THE CASE OF MIR. CRANE
Testimony Taken Yesterday Afternoon In
the weather Bureau Investigation.

oEy. COLBY BEADS THE LETTERS THAT HAVE
PASSED BETWEEN SECRETARY MORTON AND
PROV. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS CRANE TELLS
OF HIS ExPERIExcE WITH SIcoLLs-HE DE-
MES TIE PROMOTION STORY.
Calmer but inclined to be misty, with light
breezes.
The above would have been the weather
bureaus account OF yesterdays proceedings in
the investigation of the bureau by Assistant
Attorney General Colby at the Agricultural
Department There was hardly ripple dur
ing the afternoon. and Gen. Colby and Mr.
Ross Perry smiled at each other in profess
sional way in such a charming manner and
Mr.. Mclaughlin looked so happy and Prof.
Harrington SO placid and calm that it was al
most impossible 10 remember the storm which
had surged around the room the DAY before.
1t was. however. rainy and cold outside. and
the idea was bound to crop up that Prof. Har
rlngton had better be attending TO the manu-
facture of some decent weather than sitting
around an investigation.
The oniy witness examined Mr.. A. Il.
Crane. the observer stationed at Norfolk about
whom so much has been ssid in the inve-tiga-
tiOn- Nh Crane Il Young man. with a dark
mustache. and he apparently was the only per-
son III the room who did not seem to thor
Oughly enjoy himself. Mr.. Cranes lack OF en-
jovment seemed TO arise from his not being
able to realize what being investigated and
who doing the investigating. He appealed
imPartially 10 Prof. Harrington and Mr.. Nc
Iaughlln for Consolation. His testimony was
clear AMI straightsor~ ard and to the point
when the point made dazzling. but when
the point withdrawn Mr.. Crane seemed in
clined to tell his past astory. and with rapid
ity which brought look of pain 10 the Official
stenOyrat he's face,
The proceedings opened with something that
promised another breeze. but the promise was
not fulfilled.
LETTERS READ GIN. COLBY.
Gen Colby held tine lever this time and COM
menced the proceedings by reading letter he
had written to Secretary Morton transmitting
the pleading which Mr.. Perry hId filed the day
before The pleading consisted Oh the last let
ter written by Prof. Harrington TO Secretary
Morton Gen. Colby in his letter asked If
under the circumstances the Secretary had
any further instructions to give. Following
his own letter Gen Colby read the two letters
which Secretary Morton had written Prof. Har-
rington. The tirst OF these letters has appeared
in substance IN The STAR and the latter in full.
In the first of these letters Secretary Morton
refers in complimentary terms to Gen Colby as
follows:
Il am sorry that you dislike the manner of
Gen. Colby in conducting the inquest. l re-
Rrct very MUCH Nudt you
justly, regard him as your prosecutor NV
knowledge of Gen. Colby a citizen. prOnll-
nent lawyer and one of the most eminent re-
publicans in the northwest led me 10 think
that. acting a sOrs of master IN chancery, he
would fairly and squarelv endeayor TO elicit
the truth "a to IL scandalOIs rumOrs concern
ing the weather bureau. over which You have
had the honor TO preside. and an not pre-
pared. even az the suggestion OF yourself and
ycur ATTORNEY. for whom l have the greatest
a tho
judiciaDv minded methods Of Gen. Colby in
seeking for the truth, without fear. without
favor. without any bias in favor OF any one o.
against any one.
Speaking OF the executive clerk matter the
letter saws: 1T viii be time enough, probably,
when tins investigation shall have closed. when
Mai DunwOudy the LIST OF May shall have
assumed the duties now incumbent upon Val.
lockwood. to determine as to whether the gov
eminent loses by the appointment Of
ecuiive oaicer with IL salary OF $500 when the
position OF "a 5000 civilian has been filled by
"A We .erau major o: the regular army. VINO Will
only draw his military salary and vino viii have
for his assistant that executive o.icer-cOn-
corning whose appointment YOU appear some
what critIca!-at $500 less PEI year than Maj.
lockwood enjoyed
Il see" SAID Mr. Perry. after the letters had
been read THAT the rule against reading letters
does rot apply to the Secretary o. Agriculture
well as TO me.
Mr. CRANE TESrlFiEs.
Mr. 4 z. Crane then took the stand. He
testified that ne an observer of the weather
bureau stationed at Norfolk, where he had been
since November last. His two assistants were
III. :. Nicols and Robert Balm. This brought
the matter down to the Nicolls case. as il will
be remembered the charges allege that Crane
was promoted for his services in protecting
Nicolls, although knowing at the time he was
incompetent.
Mr. Crane was asked by Gen. Colby what
Nicolls conduct and services had been. The
witness testified that when he was transferred
from Wilmington TO Norfolk he had found
NicollS at the latter place. At times Nicolls
services were satisfactory and again directly
the opposite. On the whole he did not think
his services warranted his retention. At the
time witness arrived in Norfolk he had learned
from Nr. Davis, his predecessor at that point,
that Nicolls incompetent. Very shortly
after he had received q letter from the bureau
directing that Nicolls be placed under instruc-
tons and that a monthly report of progress be
made to the bureau.
Mr.. Crane then read from his letter-press
books the reports he had made on Nicolls. In
Dece nber. 1892 he had reported mo marked
Improvement" In january of this year. mo
progress in telegraphy from LIST to 18th of
month, although more satisfactory in latter
halt" In February. "a little progress in tel
egraphy." On March 23 he had sent letter 10
the bureau with two Endorsements on it. one
DIV NlcOls anu one DIV himself 1ue UOUN OF
the letter asks Nicolls why he had not obeyed
an order to hoist a certain signal Nicolls in
tOrsement reads. because l did not receive
it," Cranes own Enforcement rates Nicolls
severely tor neglect and carelessness; says this is
not the first time the same thing has occurred
and states that If there is not a marked change
b. should have To ask Nicolls transfer.
Another letter dated March 81 reported some
improvement IN Nicols wo-k. and the last let
ter, dated April II. reported gross insubordina-
ton on NIcOiss part and asked that another as
sistsnt be sent down In this letter Mr.. Crane
said tina. patience had ceased to be a virtue
That he had done all that was possible for
Nicolls. but that everything failed and the worst
bad developed.
Mr.. Crane further testified that he was in
Washington for the Inauguration and on March
bad called at the weather bureau to paw his
respects. Prof. Harrington had asked him how
everything was getting along at Norfolk and he
had replled that everything all right with
the exception of Nicolls Prof. Harrington had
then said. as near as witness could remember
go back exercise a little patience and give
him another trial II he does not do better re-
port it to me"
In regard to Nicolls' habits Mr.. Crane testi-
aed that he had never said that Nicolls drank
nov. He had said that he believed the Kelley
cure had shattered his nerves.
HIS APPLICATION FOR PROMOTION.