The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-04-18
Republican Weather Bureau Crook
edness Brought to Light by
Secretary Morton.
Property OF the Government Taken
for Personal Use by
Employees.
Or Sold Without Authority and No Re-
turn Made Of tho Proceeds Much
yillainy Discovered.

WASHINGTON. April T.-Secretary Morton
this afternoon received the report OF Assist
ant Attorney General Colby. who conducted
the investigation into the charges of illegal
and fraudulent disposal Of public prope, ty
In the weathor bureau. The secretary an
nounced that he would take the matter
under advisement. Tho recommendations
are as follows: 1.-THE immediate discharge
OF officials and employees guilty of theft,
embezzement or unauthorized sale of GOV
ernment property. and prosecution, GRIM
inally and civilly; the entire reorganization
OF the executive management and control
OF the bureau; that no government Or roperty
be loaned out or taken from tho depar tment
for private purposes under any oircum-
stances whatever. and no property to be
taken for official uss except upon requisi-
tion duly signed and approved and
for which receipt is given; that
property carried on the rolls of the
bureau be sold. only at public auction after
due advertisement; that the practice of
ioaninR money now prevailing in the
weather bureau between employees and Off
oers. and especially by those of inferior
rank to their superiors in official position,
be absolutely prohibited; the entire reor-
Ranization of the executive management
and control of the bureau and the official
separation, as much as practicable, as far
as property responsibility is concerned, of
the executive department from thut which
is purely scientific or educational: the es-
tablishment of such regulation as shall re-.
Qulre strict accountability from each en-
Irith
tio! OF government property, and the cen
tering IN one Official of the ontrol of and
responsibility for the whole property of the
bureau; that careful inventory be taken
OF government property in tho bureau.
=. Among the principal findings of fact by
the assistant attornev general were these:
Ihat IN February 1893. number of brass
and iron mouldings exceeding $50, were
solo to X. N. Brannon, captain OF watch,
without legal authority and no return made
therefo'; that a number of yards OF carpet
and other articles belonging to the govern
ment were disposed of bv said Brannon and
no returns made; that John J. Ryan, ar
e.nploye OF the bureau, had in the cellar of
his residence in February, 1893. quantity
OF new government prowerty; that large
new plece OF llnoleum, procured for use IN
the bureau. was. during the year 1882, taken
therefrom and disposed of by employees of
the government without authority and no
ASsuAA A'ouOS LuhuV drClCle6 or pfOp6rtv
belonging to the government, such as type.
stationery, office supplies. furniture, bound
records of books. chemical materials and
oyer 800 Thermometers were taken
therefrom in the months of July and
August, 1892, disposed of without legal au-
thority and no returns made therefor; that
five carpets complete for rooms of unde-
termined dimensions, and seventy-eiQht
yards of measured carpet. have entirely dis
appeared from the weather bureau and
none of the officers or employees thereof
could or would furnish any information in
regard to such property or account for it's
absence; sixty-seven yards of the unmeas-
ured. however. were proved to have been in
the residence of Brannon for the past six
months.
Evidence shows that property of the gov
ernment has been removed from the bureau
from time to time at the pleasure of en-
ployes or officers for use at private resi-.
dences. without receipts being given,
reuuiaitions made. or any record kept of
such disposition in the bureau. II further
appears that Captain of the Watch Bran
non practiced loanino 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 financial obligation to him.