Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-22

men 10 the detrlment OF the public service. /
have taken great care that no snap judgments
should take effect against my subordinates
have also been especially careful that none Of
the numerous feuds inherited from twenty
years OF military regime should affect
my action. The case of II. S. Nichols
was one requiring leniency. He entered
the bureau service April 20 1892. without
recommendation from me. 1t soon developed
that he was . victim Of the liquor habit and he
Was granted leave Of two months without
pay to effect a cure-an object which it ap-
pears he has accomplished. The reports of his
progress have been various, but the situation
was complicated for some months BY
the fact that his then superior was ner-
yous, irritable, ill and discontented I
have not at any time felt myself justified in
recommending his discharge. / am not per-
sonally acquainted with Nichols or his family
l am informed and believe that he is not q
relative OF the assistant chief. l have no hore
interest in him than in any other employe Of
the bureau.
The case Of Titus s. Townsend is different
and depends on the difficulties and dangers Of
taking observations on Pixies Peak. This sta
ton is In many respects the most interesting
and important, as it is the highest. meteorolog-
icsl station in the world. 1t has been o dis
credit TO the signal service that it discontinued
Its observatory there and failed to
work up It's observations, leaving them to be
taken care of by foreign meteorologists. re-
solved, with the consent of the Secretary Of Agri
culture. to remedy this error by re-establishing
the station. but l found great difficulty i'll
finding men who could endure life on the
peak and were willing to undertake it.
Toward the approach Of winter l was
Obliged suddenly to find an additional
man. He was required to be willing, able
and courageous. Townsend was brought to my
attention BY }. B. Mclaughlin. chief OF the
executive DIVISION. As such man. He had
previously shown heroism in remaining at his
post IN Florida during an epidemic Of yellow
fever. i consulted Mclaughlin and Others
about him. Mclaughlin commended him for
has heroisni and though / questioned Nc
laughhn az length he failed to tell me
mat the young man had been charged
with certain offenses; did / know
OF these until LATELY. i trusted McL.augh-
In to Inform me Of SO much OF q mans record
as ought TO know. That was q part of his es-
peciai duties. but in this case he failed to do
so, although there was abundant opportunity.
townsend was appointed on my recommends
ion, and be has not dlscredited my opinion of
nim until two months or SO ago, when he was
reported rs absent from his station without
leave. promptly wrote him letter Of repri-
nand, and he Is now doing we'll
The case OF Malcolm II. Perry ia that of q
man who apparently fslsified his record. The
proof was slow IN coming, but when il reached
me suspended him pending satisfactory ex-
plantation He came to Washington to make
mis- explanation and claimed that the whole
matter was an error due to his Ill mesa A doc
tor certificate was dled, but (being called
for long after W. a'-~-sI ~.