Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-24
P e A c E OR w A r :?
Which is 1t to Be Between Secretary
Morton and Prof Harrington
Prof. Harrington Makes . Statement in Re.
gard to Criticisms of the Secretary-Hs
Has Been Loyal, He Says.

Not SO very long ago the telegraph wires
nightly licked of the expression: The rela
tons between the Secretary of Agriculture and
the chief Of the weather bureau
are strained" Then followed period
when white winged peace stretched her snowy
wings from the minaret Of the weather castle.tc
the flag pole on the Agricultural Department
and the tick Of the telegraph instrument told
not of the clash of wariike weapons, but ofcon-
fidential meetings, pleasant relations ana en-.
tire harmony. qulet, loving people rejoiced
and all was serene.
There have. however, been lapses in the low
ing communion Of soul described above
Dark clouds have gathered only to
be dispelled. Chasms have opened In
the smooth pathway down which Secre-
tary Morton and Prof. Harrington walked
hand in hand. The chasms have always beer
brdged, however. During the past week one
some engineering difficulties have been met
with in the construction Of the bridge.
It will be remembered how certain execu
tive clerk at the weather bureau suspended
by Prof. Harrington for disobedience and
how he brought grave charges against
the management of the bureau. which
were investigated by Assistant Attorney
Gen. Colby, who rendered q report on the sub
ject, which was thought by many impair
tial observers to show considerable prejudict
in its conclusions. Secretary Morton, Il
will be remembered, seemed to take like
view Of the matter and hns taken no action
on the report. There. SO far as public record
is concerned. the matter has rested. IL has
been known, however, that the relations be-
tween Secretary Morton and Prof. Harrington
have been fairly harmonious and that the work
of the weather bureau was being moulded into
channels which met the approval OF the Secre-
tary.
At intervals. however, injudicious friends Of
Prof. Harrington, or at any rate persons
who posed as his friends, have sent
articles out to various papers IN which
Secretary Morton was attacked in an ex'
tremely bitter manner. In the beiei ina
these articles came from close friends OF the
chief OF the weather bureau, Secretary Nor
ton has naturally resented them, and in con.
sequence the existing harmony promised
to be shattered to atoms. A syndicate letter
sent from this city on the l4th, which
contained q description of the weather bureau
and in which Secretary Morton was handled It
a most uncomplimentary manner. came yer,
near precipitating climax to the affair, ane
Mr.. Chsrleson, the diplomatic private secretary
to the Secretary OF Agriculture. is said to hav'
held several remonstrative interviews witt
the chief of the weather bureau. Secretar.
Morton has been absent from tho city since
that time and the matter has rested.
Statement.
Prof. Harrington's friends have held through
out that it was neither with his knowledge o.
consent that any criticisms Of the Secretary o
Agriculture were given to the press. and thu
view is carried out by statement which Prof
Harrington made todny. In his statement Prof
Harrington saws:
Il wish to say that while / am chief shall
have no policy to carry out other than that out
lined by my official superior. desire that my
friends withhold their judgment in matters al
fecting the weather bureau until after fan
trial Of the new policy. In the meantime
shall lend my loyal support to the Secretary o
Agriculture in his efforts to make this bureau
more valuable to the public"