Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-28
CHIEF CLERK SMITH
He Is Examined at Length in the Weather
Bureau Investiyafion.

WHAT HE KNEW OF THE CASES OF CRANE.
NICHOLS AND TowSsHEND, ALSO AS TO TIE
EXPERT CoMPILEEs-SorHrNs IRREGULAs In
THE METHOD OF HANDLING PAPERs
The investigation into the weather bureau
started off at IL O'Clock this morning without
any evidences of war or bloodshed Prof
Harrington and his counsel, Mr. Ross Perry.
occupied, usual, one of the tables. and as soon
as Gen. Colby arrived Mr.. Perry said that in
view Of the ruling of yesterday he did not de-
sire to further cross-question Mr. Mclaughlin
This was something Of surprise. The railing
referred to was that Mr.. Mclaughlin need not
answer questions in regard TO where he had his
letter of March 90 typewritten and to whom
he had shown it. The intention of these ques-
tions evidently was to connect Mr. Mclaughlin
with conspiracy among signal service men.
MIR. Perry then further stated that he desired
to have ex-Secretary Eusk called for tomorrow
Senators Coke and Mills, he thought, would not
be necessary, but Representative Long he
wanted
CHIEF CLERK SMITH EXAMINED.
Chief Clerk Horace E. Smith then took the
stand He remembered the employment Of
the expert compllers named. that Is Madden.
Mrs. Piummer and Mrs Adams. They were
employed for especial work. and these three
GREW, he thought, II, 900 each. Knew nothing
about their qualifications at the time Of APP
pointment. He remembered that Mrs. Plum
mer had said she could not do the work
and the chief clerk of the Agricultural
Department had sent over Miss Smslley and
taken Mrs. Plummer 10 the Agricultural De-
partment. Did not know what salary Miss
Smalley drew. To large extent his knowi-
edge OF Mrs. Baker came from the regu-
lnr l-l-
ofilce. Madden was not on the rolls.
Mrs. Baker was, he thought. engaged now
IN copying work. He believed she still
held the commission of expert compiler
Witness did not remember whether Lieut.
Pursseu or himself had suggested first that
Mrs. Baker be put at copying He did not
know that these clerks we've inefficient. Had
never especially noted Maddens rating. Me
Mclaughlin had the statutes in regard to the
chief clerk read to show, he said. that the
chief clerks duty was TO especially scan the
ratings.
The testimony then branched off into the
fourth charge as to the appointment of messen-
gers and laborers, not needed as such, and used
afterward as clerks, in violation OF the civil
service. Questions were asked IN regard to the
appointments OF Miss Dart and Miss Eigby.
Both, he thought, had been engaged
on work which was more the work of laborers
than clerks. Witness thought the same would
apply to Miss Lawton, another men
toned. All three were carried on the roster as
doing miscellaneous work. He did not remem-
Der any change in the roster with regard to
these laborers
THE CRANE PROMOTION.
A switch off was taken to the Crane promo
tion and Gen. Colby wanted witness to tell all
he knew in the matter. Witness testified to
first meeting Crane in Philadelphia in 1891
when Crane was assistant observer there. Be-
came interested in him. The acquaintance was
kept up to a certain extent.
In the early part of March Crane called on
him, and in the conversation Crane said that he
thought he should have more pay, and witness
had told him that the only way was to make
formal application and get it on file. Did not
make any promises. Did not think the Nichols
case was mentioned in this conversation. Had
received letters from Crane, in which Nichols
was mentioned. So far witness could re-
member. the remarks in regard to Nichols were
of a varying character. Had answered these
letters, but only once remember to have espe-
cially mentioned Nichols. This letter was in
answer to one from Crane, in which he Lad
said that Nichols seemed to rely his father
for protection, and witness had answered that
1t would be very easy for Crane to make Mich
OILS understand that if he did not brace up he
would have to 60. father or no father.
Witness did not know until lately that Nichols
had any influence in the bureau. He had
talked with Mr.. lockwood in regard to the
matter. As he remembered he had said TO MIR.
lockwood that he had received complaints
from Norfolk in regard to Nichols, and Mr..
lockwood had said that he was afraid Nichols
was bad egg and would have 10 go. Another
time he had heard lockwood say that he
thought he might go down 10 Norfolk and see
If he could not straighten the matter out. Did
not know whether this would have been an
unusual step on Mr.. Rockwoods part.
NO IRREGULAR HANDLING OF PAPERS.
Questioned in regard to Cranes application
for promotion, Mr.. Smith thought there was
nothing irregular in the way the appli-
cation had been handled. He had talked
with Prof. Harrington in regard to
the application and had said that he thought
Crane was well worthy of promotion. In
answer to leading questions from Gen. Colby
Mr.. Smith testified that Nichols name had not
been mentioned. and, further. witness stated
emphatically that in this application and pro-
motion the question Of Nichols had never in
any way entered his mind
Mr.. Mclaughlin questioned witness in
regard to the way the application had been
handled, but witness denied that the papers
had been handled in an irregular way. Wit
ness had never talked with Mr.. lockwood in
regard to Cranes promotion.
THE TowNsHEND LETTER OF ADMoNIrIoN.
Mr.. Mclaughlin then started on the Towns
hend affair, with reference to the letter of ad-
monition written to Townshend. Witness re-
membered Mclaughlin ebjecting to the
wording, "your past good record" as
giving the man a clean history. Witness
denied that Mclaughlin had told him at the
time that Townshend had been guilty of for
gerry. He simply understood that in q general
way Mclaughlin thought the words might prove
bothersome in the future.
Mr.. Perry cross-examined witness The ap-
polntments OF the expert compilers referred to
had been made by the Secretary of Agricul-
ture Did not know who had recommended
these persons. Mrs. Adams remained in the
Office at present through appointment from the
present Secretary of Agriculture. To the
best Of his knowledge the transfer of Mrs.
Plummer had been ordered by the chief clerk
OF the Agricultural Department.
DID NOT KNOW NICHOLS.
In regard to the Crane matter MI. Smith testi-
fed that he did not know Nichols and that none
OF his actions in regard to the Crane appoint
ment had the slig htest reference to Nichols He
believed Crane worthy of promotion and felt
friendly to him also. The application of Crane,
to the best OF his knowledge, had been directed
to the Secretary Of Agriculture and bad
come over to the bureau opened.
In connection with the appointment he had
never heard Nichols name mentioned.
Witness stated emphatically that be knew of
nothing which connected Nichols with Cranes
promotion.
Mr.. Smith did not remember the appoint
ment OF Titus Townshend. The first he knew
Of the matter was the receipt of the tele-
gram SO often mentioned and the prepa-
ration Of the letter of admonition.