Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-04

From all appearances the very best time to
have an investigation into the weather Of this
city il just now. Therefore the continuation Of
the weather bureau investigation yesterday
afternoon was something which every one pres
emit was bound to acknowledge as q good thing.
providing it found some remedy for the state
of affairs at that time. The line of investipa-
ton, however. touched very slightly on the aues-
ton Of weather. Lieut. PursseIl told Gen.
Colby that the all-day rain which had kept
everybody in the city damp was merely a local
shower. and. as a matter of fact, this was about
the most damaging piece Of evidence which has
30 far been produced against the management
Of the bureau.
As TO MRS. BAKERS REAPPorNrMESr.
As soon as Gen. Colby and the others most
interested IN the investigation had arrived
Lieut- Pursseii again went on the stand and
added something to his testimony in regard to
the special compieIs, about which so much
has been said The witness had first heard Of
airs; Baker reappointmens from one Of the
clerks, and bad said to him to tell Mrs Baker
that for the present he had nothing for her to
90. Afterward he had seen Prof. Harrington
anu nad said to him that Mrs. Baker was thor
ouSnly incompetent and he thought he should
report her to the Secretary of Agriculture.
mad said that such an action would do him
harm In the investigation, or words to that
effect. lie had then said to Prof. Harrington
mat ne wanted to be relieved from duty where
he should be responsible for Mrs. Baker. He
regarded Mrs. Bakers place as q sinecure in
the full sense of the word
Lieut. Purssell was questioned in regard to
the Perry affair once more Twice he remem-
oered the observations from Perry had been
erroneous. and once, when most wanted, had
mia H. h,1 10 - 81
observations from other observers being wrong,
but in Perrys case thought the affair occurred
too often.
CRoss-EXAMINED By MR. PERRY.
The witness was cross examined by Mr..
Perry in regard to how much Of the affair re-
specting Mrs. Baker he had reported to Prof.
Harrington. but it was found that not until the
time, which has been thoroughly gone into,
when Mrs. Baker put on copying work
had Prof. Harrington been informed of Mrs.
Bakers deficiency. Mr. Perry then brought
out By questions that Prof Harrington had
written the letter Directing to the appointment
OF these inferior clerks at a time prior to the
time he had talked to witness.
MLACGHLIS AGAIN A WITNESS.
This about ended Lieut.. Pursselrs testimony,
and Mr.. Mclaughlin went on the stand to close
up all he had to tell The examination was
generally of an unimportant character and was
HN.inlN cOunned 10 the Inspection trip OF capt.
Stone. Mr.. Mclaughlin repeated his evidence
IN regard TO the irrsgularity Of this trip. and
testified further that at the time these inspec-
lions were made regular inspector was in the
nei5hborhood- Gen. Colby asked some sharp
questions as to whether regular inspector
coTld have performed this duty for less than
$3.50. but Mr. Mclaughlin could not answer
the questions. although he held that the inspec-
tons were not regular and were not regularly
reported The records in regard to the inspec-
ton came in for another overhauling, but moth
ing new was developed.
TIE CASE OF CLAYTON.
The case Of Ii. III. Clayton was further de-
veloped, and Mr.. Mclaughlin again testified his
opinion that Clayton did not do the work he
should Mr.. Perry endeavored to develop that
there was jealousy of CLAYTON, because he was
not an army man. but Mr.. Mclaughlin denied
that such was the case. He also claimed that
Clayton was personal friend of Prof Harring-
t0n's and that favoritism had been shown him.
QUESTIONED BY MR. PERRY.
Mr.. Perry questioned the witness in regard
to various phases of the investigation, but little
was developed. and the duel brought out only
that Mr. Mclaughlin denied having any idea that
Titus Townshend was to be advanced by the
suggestion he bad made to give him a subordi-
nate place at Cincinnati. Mr.. Perry compared
again the cases Of Townshend, Nichols and NAL
colin Perry. and then the prosecution part of
the investigation came to end. and an adj
1ournment was taken until Friday a. 2 o'clock
when the defense will start with the much
talked-of Nichols as the first witness.