The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-04-18
CHARGED WITH WRONG DOING.

Result OF the Investigation Into Acts Of
Weather Bureau OniciaIs.
WASHINGTON. April T7-Secretary Nor
ton. this afternoon. recsived the report of
Assistant Attorney-general Colby, who
conducted the Investigation into the
charges Of illegal and fraudulent disposal
of public property in the Weather Bureau.
The Secretary read the report and an
nounced that. after gong through the i'm
mense amount of testimony In the case, he
would take tie matter under sdvisement.
The recommendations are as follows:
The immediate discharge OF the officials and
employees guilty or theft, ENHANCEMENT. or of the
unauthorized sale of government property and
their prosecution therefor crfminally and civily.
The entire reorganization Of the executive de-
partnent and control of the bureau and the Off
cial separation, as much as practicable, so far
proper responsibility is concerned. OF the execu-
cationaI The establishment OF such regulation
as shall require strict accountability from each
employe charged with the possession or control
one Official or the control OF and responsibility
Tor the whole property OF the bureau. That
properly IN the bureau, the shortage thereof de-
ttrmlnoa ana tae employees responsible therefor
sequired to ressond IN civil damages
Among .:hs principal findings of fact by
fhe Assistant Attorney-general were these:
Thatin February. 1893, number of brass and
Eon nolds exceeding $50 in value were sold by
K j. Brannon, captain OF the watch. without
legal authority and no return made therefor.
,arnst helono,nr 49, number OF yards -, OF
made therefor.
non sold, without legal authority. quantity OF
wood or lumber belonging TO the government
and made no returns therefor.
That John j. Ryan, an employe at the bureau.
had in the cellar of his residence in FEBRUARY,
1888. as shown by the testimony OF Lewis Hop
1enmayer, quantity OF new government prop
ertj, estimated 70 DO worth from 500 TO $500.
consisting OF pencils, pens and envelopes and
other stationery supplies. ia unbroken packages
and boxes taken from the Weather Bureau. aud
offered TO sell the to said Hopfenmayer.
That large, new pieces OF linoleum procured for
Use IN the bureau were. during the year 1892.
taken therefrom ana disposed OF by employees
OF the government without authority, and no
returns made therefor.
That on Dec IL. 1892, six or seven cases OF
bureau and disposed OF o. employees OF the gov
eminent. and no returns made therefor.
9ng to the government, such as Stationery. office
supplies. furniture. bound record books, chemi-
cal materials and over eight hundred thermome-
and August. 1892. disposed or without legal au-
thoTity and no returns made therefor.
rnrs nve CARPETS. complete: Tor rooms OF nm
OF measured carpet have entirely disappeared
from the Weather Bureau. and none of the Off
pny Information In regard to such property. or
account for its absence.
The evidence also shows that there has been q
decrease In the price reported OF the sales OF
paper made by employees or the bureau FROM
bS-s cents per 100 pounds. or an average prior
co July I, 1891, to aga cents per 100 pounds
since the transfer 10 the Agricultural Depart
menf without any change in the market price
thereof.
The evidence shows that the property of the
government has been removed from the bureau
from time 10 time at the pleasure of the en-
ployes or officers for use at their private resi-
dence, without recipes being given, acquisitions
made therefor. or am record kept OF such dispo-
eifion in the bureau
1b further appesrs from the testimony that
Captain of the Watch Brannon practiced loaning
money at high rates OF interest to officers and
employees OF the bureau, both 10 those above and
below him tn rank thus placing his superior OIL
GERS under ftnanci al obligations TO him.
An inventory directed by me during the inves-
dgation on the item OF carpets alone disclosed
the shortage or absence OF tive complete unmeas-
ured carpets used IN various Offices OF the bureau,
and 145 yards OF measured CARPETS. Sixty-seven
yards OF the latter. however, were returned after
notice, on the day OF the inventory, by the cap
tain or the watch. after having been In his pri-
vate possession and ne at his private residence
Tor more than six months