Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-12

One Branch OF the Weather Bureau Inves.
tiEation Closed.

eAFA- bhANSON AND THE CARPETS.
One Branch Of the Weather Bureau Inve..
tiEation Closed.
ODDS AND ENDS OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY
SAID TO HAVE BEEN TAKEN-DEsks USED Br
OFFICIALS AT THEIR HoNEs-PRoF HAIR
H1SGToS AND HIS ASSISTANT MAKE STATE
MINIS
The investigation into the loss Of property
from the weather bureau was closed Yesterday
afternoon Gen. Colby will now make his
report, which will be submitted to Secretary
Morton The charges made by J. p. McLaugh-
lin will be formulated in a few days and then
the investigation on this line will be begun.
The testimony yesterday showed that seventy
eight yards and five pieces Of carpet were miss
ing and further implicated Capt Brannon.
Prof. Mark W. Harrington. the chief Of the
bureau. Mr.. lockwood, ms assistant, and Mr..
Smith, the chief clerk. all testified.
The first witness called was William WASH
ington, laborer at the weather bureau. who
had occupied the position for twelve years. He
saw Capt Brannon cutting new roll of limo
Ieum as he happened to pass through the room
at the time. What Capt. Brannon had done
with the hnoleum he did not know.
CAPT. STONE RECALLED.
Capt. Stone. the disbC-sing clerk was recalled
and presented the inventory asked for on
Monday by Gen. Colby regarding the carpet
on hand at the bureau and the record on file
in the account books. The report showed a
shortage of seyenty-eight wards and five sepa-
rate pieces of carpet. the sizes of which were
not known Sixty-eight Yards of carpet were
returned to the de apartment yesterday morning
by Capt Brannon when the inventory was
taken The return was made at the suggestion
nor could he find out. what had become of the
missing carpet
On his own behalf Capt. Stone stated that in
regard 20 the IS he received fer the stone
that he had never converted the money to his
own use. as the government finances were kept
separate ard he had never taken a penny frCm
that box for his own purposes. III he received
the money it was still there and he had placed
$5 on the debit side of his accounts yesterday
Mir. Geo. ii. Gartrell asked Capt. Stone what
right he had to authorize Capt. Braunon to
take the carpet TO his house.
Gen. Colby. hOWever. interfered and said he
had already dealt with this matter ard did rot
desire the discussion to become general
Mr.. Perry recalled Mr.. Van Auken TO show by
him that BrannOn. among those whose names
were mentioned AZ connected with the thefts,
was the only one vino at the bureau when
the transfer was made At the suggestion of
j. b. Mclaughlin Gen. Colby drew from Capt.
Stone the statement that his daughter used the
HpcSNAtcN ne NsAAtu 10 HIS mousse III
answering the letters he received from his
constituents on pension matters and other
things
Capt. Stone. in reply to a question by Gen.
Colby. said that he had given Brannon the
privilege of taking the carpet to his home for
use during the G.. A. Il. encampment. He
thought he had this right. and to limited ex-
tent believed it to b a just one.
WHAT PROF. HAREISGToS's INSTRUCTIONS WERE.
Maj. lockwood. the assistant chief of the
weather bureau. was next examined. He said
his work was chiefly of an executive character.
He could not saw in detail what Prof. Ha-ring-
ton had told him regarding the thefts. but in a
general way II that he desired to get
TO the bottom of this matter and root the ulcer
ont High or low, The persons must be gotten
rio OF.
Chief Clerk Smith. brother-in-law OF Prof
Harrington. vas asked by Mr. Perry whether
he had borrowed any money from Capt Bran
non. as the latter had testified The witness
stated that once. and only once. did he borrow
money from Capt. Branuon. The amount was
800, for sixty ninety days. he did not
remember. He reCaid the money when it
fell due and 81 interest for it. He
told Prof. Harrington shortly after
Van Auker started the investigation
OF what was going or. and Prof. Harrington
told him to get 10 the bottom of it" The
desk be had e. his house was for official use,
and after his work WAS completed it re-
turned. A case IF pigeon holes still remains
there. The table which mad been referred to
was no. and never had been the property OF
the government. but Of a private individual to
whom 1t now belongs
Harold c. Paynter. clerk in the department.
was called by Nr. Perry to testify that Gen.
Greedy and other officials of the weather bureau
had been accustomed to have desks stationery
and other things sent to their residences for
Official use He would not recommend such q
course generally. but did no: think it irregular
in some cases for tie high officials have these
privileges when a proper record of all transfers
Of property was made, as was the case with
those he referred -.
PROF. HaRE:NGToS's STATEMENT
Prof. Harrington was next examined He
said he knew only by vague report of Brannons
lending money until Brarnon told him that he
was doing 30. when he informed him that he
disapproved OF such action. and from that
time he Gid not know that Brannon was lending
money He had business of a nature which
demanded quiet. which he could not obtain at
the department. and for this reason made an
order on the property clerk for the desk which
was afserwa-d returned. He had given the
chief clerk. When he was i'll. the privilege of
having certain articles removed to his home.
Did You think this justitiable!" asked Gen.
Colby.
Yes. sir. 1 did
Then how about the right of Capt Brannon
to remove articles to his house?''
The privileges of administrative officer
are and should be greater than a captain of the
watch"
Mr.. Perry then desired to introduce testi-
mony to show that this practice held in other
departments and thai In these departments II e
refuse matter was sold without condemna-
tion proceedings. but Gen. Colby said he did
not think this and II it true it was a
pernicious practice, which ought TO be cor
gec;ed.
Gen Colby then announced that this part of
the Investigation closed and that due
notice OF the Investigation Of the charges more
directly involving the higher officials would be
given
Mr. Perry tried to make arrangements so
mat the future proceedings might be held be-
tween 10 g. and some hour in the afternoon
rather than after 2. m. as has been done.
Though nothing definite decided on.
some such agreement will probably be reached.
The proceedings were then adjourned subject
to the cal. Of Gen Colby.
Tire Rechabites.
Cammack Tent, No. 80. l. U. OF Rechabites
held their usual NEE ting last evening An in
vitaiion received from Potomac Tent. No.
%. TO be present at the memorial service of ID.