Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-24

upon the authority ana ADVICE OF the
commissioner that such action would not be q
violation of the civil service Law. but that
the clause Of the rule quoted above would
specially include such persons exempt
This statement of the Secretary was not d.
rectly denied by the president OF the civil
service commission. who present and gave
evidence at the hearing: nevertheless Mr..
Lyman testified in substance that the clause
in the rule referred TO did not authorize the
employment or retention, as expert compilers,
OF the persons having the qualifications
mentioned. and that such action was in direct
violation of the civil service law. Two of said
employees termed expert compilers' were re-
appointed by the present Secretary Of Agricul-
ture, upon the suggestion by the chief OF
the weather bureau of the expiration OF
their terms of service: the chief however,
vouchsafed TO the Secretary no information as
to the improperly of such action the in
competency of said appointees. which facts
were at that time within his personal knowl-
edge.
SPECIAL ALLOWANCES.
During the summer of 1892 a num-
Der Of local forecast officials were ordered to
Washington from various parts Of the country
by the chief OF the weather bureau for pur-
poses of instruction. Their expenses for board
and lodging while in the city. to the ex-
tent Of S45 per month. were paid by the gov
eminent. Some of these officials while so do
tailed boarded at the house OF the chief clerk
vi tue Ntaluef Duredu, VINO is tDe DrOtntr-ln-
law Of the chief of the bureau. The bills
were made out by the wife of tho
chief clerk, certified to correct by her hus-
band in his official capacity. and the accounts
approved by her brother. the chief Of the
bureau While this is family suggestive of
nepotsm, ii is not shown by the evidence that
any collusion existed or that the transaction
involved anything more improper than appears
in the mere statement of the facts as outlined
above.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
in addition to the foregoing specific charges
rejecting upon the management Of the weather
bureau the evidence discloses that the chief Of
the bureau has neglected or refused to
execute the provisions Of the act OF
Congress which gives to the weather
bureau one executive officer and but three
chiefs Of divisions. 1t appears that the duties
which would seem to properly fall TO the exec
utive officer have been distributed 10 chiefs Of
divisions, thus rendering il necessary to
appoint, for the performance of such
duties. an additional number of other officers
Of a different grade In furtherance OF this
policy the chief Of the bureau has recon-
mended that the position of executive officer
be dispensed with, when no economical pur-
pose would be subserved thereby. and
when the law. well as the best interests OF
the service. would seem to require his retention
and assignment TO the duties which
were doubtless in the contemplation of the
trainers of the act The chief of the bureau
has organized five divisions and about seven
additional sections in the bureau. each OF which
is in charge of an employee acting as chief at
a salary of from Sl.S00 TO 5000 per annum,
while the act of Congress makes provision
for but three chiefs Of divisions at sala-
ries of $4,000 each. There is authority
IN the act Of Congress for the Secretary OF
Agriculture TO make such changes in the per-
sonnet Of tine weather bureau as shall limit or
reduce the expenses thereof. but there is no
authority whatever given by law to the chief Of
the bureau for increasing the officers or
expenses.
PROFESSORS AND ARMY OFFICERS.
1t appears that there are certain officials
| in the weather bureau whose duties are merely
nominal and whose time is mainly occupied
in the pursuit of private business There
are observers and assistants whose time
is only partly taken up with official
| work, but who are paid full salaries An or
dained minister Of the Gospel. whose talents
| are largely devoted to his duties as assistant
| rector in a prominent church, is carried
on the rolls Of the bureau as professor Of
| meteorology at a salary of 5000 per annum.
Some OF the employees have personal habits
| which unfit them. during a considerable por-
ton OF the time. for their official work Two
| OF the observers have. during the past few
| months, been placed under medical treatment
for habitual drunkenness and their places in
| the meantime supplied by additional employees.
4
| transferring the weather bureau from
| the War Department and establishing IL as q
| part of the Department Of Agriculture pro-
| vides that officers Of the army. not exceeding
| four. expert in the duties OF the weather
bureau, may be assigned to duty with the
| weather bureau. While there are numerous
| employees not specially authorized BY law on
| duty in the bureau, there are at present only
| two army officers so assigned. although doubt
| less there many Of high merit. literally
| al al ir Ii
whose services when employed in the weather
bureau would assuredly be Of signal advantage.
| BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
The system Of management adopted by the
chief of the weather bureau. IN addition TO
the objection TO being without authority
of law, has, in practical application,
resulted in the relieving of subordinate
officials from responsibility aud in the en-
| tire absence OF business methods so noticeable
| in the general conduct of the executive work.
| The conditions disclosed in the early part Of
| the investigation in regard TO the
illegal and improper disposition Of the property
of the bureau mentioned in my former
| report are but the results TO be expected from
such management 1t appears that neither the
chief Of the bureau nor any subordinate officer
| is regarded responsible for the vast
amount of property or the funds OF
the government in his charge. although over
| $500 900 have been expended through the
| The evidence shows that the property of
| the government has been taken from the
| bureau for private use and retained for months
at time by officers high in authority. as
well as by those in subordinate positions.
without receipts being given therefor or any
records being made of such transactions; that
Illegal private sales Of public property, with
i out notice or appraisement, have been
frequent and in general practice in the
weather bureau; that official theft and embez-
element have been discovered and brought to
the notice Of the chief of the bureau, but the
offenders, with perhaps Q single exception,
never punished; that no inventory OF the
property of the bureau since its transfer
\ to the Agricultural Department in July, 1891,
had been taken prior TO this investigation, and
| that many thousands Of dollars worth Of pub
| lie property carried on the official rolls is not
| to be found in the bureau and is unaccounted
for.
LACK OF HARMONY.
II further appears that there is q lament
able lack OF harmony in the relations exist
ing between different officials Of the
weather bureau. Officers Of high rank are
| on terms of personal enmity with one another.
| Some of the chiefs of divisions and Of
| fcers in charge of important sections are 50
| unfriendly TO one another that official inter
course is had only through the medium OF
mutual friends. The chief Of the bureau has
no personal communication with the chief Of
| the executive division or with the officer
- -