The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-04-18
A BUREAU SCANDAL.
Investigation Of Crookedness
in Weather Department.
ONE EMPLOYEES sTEAL,Mos.
Rolls of Carpet, Furniture, TAsF1sne-
ters, 1ss., Taken without Per.
miosion-Brannons Scheme.

of Assistant Attorney General Colby.
who conducted the Investigation into
the charges Of illegal and fraudulent
disposal of public property in the weather
bureau The secretary announced that he
would take the matter under sdvisement
The recommendation arc - follows:
The immediate dischargs Of officials and en-
ployes guilty OF theft. embexs sment OF unau-
thorissd sale Of government properly and prose-
eution. criminaliy and civilly.
The entire reorganization OF the executive
Management and control Of the bureau.
That no government property b loaned out o.
taken from the department for private purposes
under any circunstances whatever, and that NO
property b taken for ofacial use except upon .
requisition duly signed and approved and for
which . receipt 10 given.
That property carried On the rolls OF the
bureau Be sold only at public auction after due
advertisement
That the practice Of leaning money now pre-
vailing in the weather bureau between employees
and ofacsrs. and especially BY those OF inferior
rank to their superior In Official position, b alb
solutely prohibited.
O6lcial separation, % much - practicable. -
far - property responsibility Is concerned OF the
executive, from that which II purely scientific
or educational.
The establishment of such regulation a. shall
require strict accountability from each employe
charged with possession or control Of govern
ment property and centsring in one official Of
the control of and responsibility Tor the whole
property in the bureau.
That careful inventory b taken OF the gov
eminent property In the bureau.
Among the principal findings Of fact by
the assistant attorney general were these:
That in February, 1893, number Of brass and
iron mouldings, exceeding $50 in value, were
sold to K +. Brsnnon, captain OF the watch,
without legal authority. and no return made
therefor.
That number Of yards OF carpet and other
articles belonging to the governments were dis
posed Of By said Brannon and NO returns made.
That john J. Ryan, an employe of the bureau,
had In the cellar Of hib residence In February,
1893 quantity of new government property.
That several large new pieces of nn0ieum,
procured Tor use in the bureau, were. during
the year 1892, taken therefrom and disposed OF
by employees OF the government without author.
ity and no return made.
That many articles Of property belonging to
supplies, furniture, bound record books, chem.
tcal materials and over 800 Thermometers, were
taken therefrom in the months of July and Au.
gust. 1882, disposed Of without legal authority
and no returns therefor.
That i've carpets, complete for rooms OF I'M.
determined dimsnsions, and seventy eight
yards OF measured carpet have entirely disap.
pesred from the weather bureau and that none
OF the ofhcsrs or employees thereof could furnish
any information regarding such property or
account for it, absence. 6ixty-seven yards of
unmeasured carpet, however. proved to have
been in the residence OF Brannon for the past
six months.
The evidence shows that the property OF the
government has been removed from the bureau
from time to time ct the pleasure OF employees
or officers Tor use at private residences without
receipts being given. reQui itions made or any
record kept OF sucn dispo, ition in the bureau.
1t further appears that Captain of the Watch
Brannon practissd the loaning OF money at high
rates Of interest to officers and employees of the
bureau, both TO- those above and below hias in
rank, thus placing his superior officers under
financial obligation to him.
The policy to be pursued by the treasury
department regarding tho financial situa.
ton was probably determined at q consul.
tation held this afternoon between Secre-
tary Carlisle and President Cleveland. All
effoSts to learn the result of the conference
have thus far failed. the Star says:
Carlisle 10 understood to DO opposed to the
issuance OF bonds for the present at least It
In his judgment that 1t would b preferable to
utilize portion Of the gold reserve fund until
~ uas become apparent that the issuance of
bonds 10 an absolute necessity.
Among the officials of the treasury de-
partment not the least fear or apprehen.
sion is expressed Of any financial embar-
rassment growing out of the gold ship
ments. They are satisfied, they say, that
shipments are being forced by those who
will be benefited by the issue of bonds, and
as soon as the brokers and bankers are
positive that their attempt to force the
issue OF the bonds is useless. just so soon
will the gold shipments cease. It is un.
derstood that there is some differences of
opinion between President Cleveland and
Carlisle. the president rather leaning to-
wards the issuance OF bonds should the
free gold be entirely exported. 1t il
thought, however, that if the present
month can be tided over. the financial
situation will assume different appear
ance. Secretary Carlisle this morning had
an extended interview with Senator Sher.
man, who has been twice secretary of the
treasury. The order for 81, $4,000 in gold
engaged for export tomorrow reduces the
free gold IN the treasury to about $500. 900.
Among the nominations which failed of
confirmation by the senate was D. G..
Browne, for collector for the district of
Montana.
Secretary Gresham had an extended
conference with the president and it is
understood that Hawaiian affairs and the
Chilean refugee question were the topics
considered.
Suicide at Sea.