The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-18
REFORMS SUGGESTED
by Mr.. Colby, Who Investigated this
Weather bureau Scandal.

weather bureau Scandal
WAsmNGToN, D. G., April l7,-Secre.
tary Morton this afternoon received the
report Of Assistant Attorney General
Colby, who conducted the investigation
into tho charges OF illegal and fraudu-
lent disposal OF property in the weather
bureau. The secretary read the report,
and announced, after going through the
immense amount OF testimony in the
case, no would take tho matter under
Qdvisement. The recommendations are
as follows:
The immediate discharge of tho Off
cials and employees guilty OF theft, en-
bezzlement, or OF the unauthorized sale
OF government property and their pro-
secution therefor, Crminally and civilly.
The entire reorganization OF the execu-
tive management and control OF the
bureau; that no government property
be loaned out or taken from the depart-
ment, for private purposes under any
circumstances whatsoever, and that no
property be taken by official use except
upon reQuisition duly signed and APP
proved and for which receipt be given;
that property carried on the rolls OF the
bureau be sold at public auction after
due advertisement; that the practice OF
loaning money now prevailing in the
weather bureau between employees and
officers and especially by those OF in
fcrior rank to their superiors in official
position be absolutely prohibited.
The entire reorganization OF the eX.
ecutive management and control OF the
bureau and the official separation, us
much as practicable, so far as property
responsibility is concerned, Of tho eX-
ecutive from that which is purely scien-
tidc or educational, is recommended, US
well as tho establishment of such regu'
lations US shall require strict account
ability from each employe charged with
the possession or control Of government
property and the Centering in ono Of
ilcial OF the control OF and responsibility
for the whole property OF the bureau.
That careful inventory be taken OF
the government property in the bureau,
the shortage thereof determined and
the employees responsible therefor re.
Ouired to account and respond in civil
damages. Among the principal findings
OF fact by tho assistant attorney general
wero these:
That in February, 1903, number of
brass and iron moulds exceeding 500 in
value were sold by r. Il, Brannon, cap
tain OF the watch, without legal author
ity and no return made therefor. That
in October, 1892, n number OF yards Of
carpet belonging to tho government
were disposed Of by said r. L. Brannon
and no return made therefor.
That in September, 1902, the said r.
L. Braunon sold without legal auth
ority, quantity OF wood or lumber be-
longing to the government, and made
no returns therefor
That John j. Ryan, an employe OF
tho bureau, had in tho cellar OF his
residence in February, 1893, as shown
by tho testimony OF Lewis Hopfen-
mayer, u quantity OF new government
property. estimated to be worth from
500 to $500, consisting Of pencils, pens
and envelopes aud other stationary
supplies, in unbroken packages and
boxes taken from tho weather bureau,
and offered to sell tho same to said
Hopienmnyer.
Tint large now pieces OF linoloum
procured for use in the bureau were
during the year Of 1902 taken there.
from and disposed Of by employees Of
by employees Of tho government without
authority and no returns made there
for
That on December II, 1SD9 six or
seven cOges OF typo were, without nu'
thortN taken from tho bureau aud dis
posed Of by employees OF tho govern
mCnt and no returns mNdO therefor
That many other articles Of property
belonging TO the government, suoh Us
stationery, Office supplies, furniture
bound record books, chemical materials
and over 500 thermometers were taken
theicfrom in tho months Of July ant
August, 1892, disposed Of without lesn
authority aud no returns mado therefor
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