Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-03
REMOVED FROM OFFICE
Professor Harrington Leaves Weather
Bureau at Presidents Request.
Caused by Friction With Sec
retary Morton.
The Professor Feels Very Much "Put Out" at
the Turn OF Events.


WASHINGTON. July 3.-President Cleve
land has removed Professor Mark w
Harrington of Michigan from the Office OF
chief Of the weather bureau after offering
him, in letter from Gray Gables, dated
June 10, an opportunity TO resign, which
Professor Harrington declined by return
mail, and Secretary Morton has desig
mated Chief Clerk Cook to act as chief OF
the bureau until Professor Harrington
successor is selected.
The relations between Secretary Morton
and Professor Harrington are known to
have been strained for many months, and
correspondence between them has been
carried on only in the most formal Ian
guage.
Soon after the change of administration,
Secretary Morton instituted an investiga-
tion of the business affairs Of the bureau.
The result did not implicate Professor
Harrington in any way, but it tended TO
increase the strained relations between the
secretary and himself. For some time
Professor Harrington has had practically
nothing to do with the routine manage
ment of the office.
The trouble came to a climax on June
10, with call for the professors resigna-
ton. The president has had the matter
under advisement for some time, and had
been urged several times to make the
formal request, but he hesitated on the
ground, it Is said, that Professor Harring-
ton should be left to settle the matter by
voluntarily stepping out.
,Afteshe was at Gray Gables, however
tic ffc ifdent decided TO request the resig
nation, Professor, Harrington immedi-
ate vft 5lied TO che president, declining to
resign, saying he considered he had
dbhG Nothing, to warrant the action. The
president sent a letter briefly stating that
Professor Harrington was removed from
the Office, the removal to take effect July /.
Officials Are Mum.
The greatest secrecy is preserved by all
the officials regarding this removal Sec
retary Morton would not talk. "That is
matter" he said, that belongs properly
to ,e White House, and if there is any
thin to be stated in regard to this propo-
sition it must come from the White House.
Until some official announcement is made
from the White House, have no commu-
nication to make. Mr.. Cook, the chief
clerk, is acting chief under the law"
At the White House no positive informa-
tion could be obtained. Mr.. Pruden, the
acting private secretary, said that he had
no authority to make any statement what
ever.
Professor Harrington himself said: "On
June l9 the president asked for my resig.
nation because Of personal interests. de-
clined TO give 1t, on the score Of public in.
terests, and my removal followed, taking
effec. July l. The personal interests in
volved were discussed by me in my letter
to the president, and feel that have
not received just or considerate treatment
with regard to 1t.
Among the public interests which ]
have had steadily in view were the pre-.
servation of the scientific corps and the
protection Of the bureau from the spoils.
man. When a scientific bureau descends
to the four-year office-holding plane, it at
once loses prestige and ceases to be de.
sirable post for competent men,
Professor Harrington was appointed
from Michigan because Of his long ac.
quaintance with meteorological matters,
having been for many years the editor OF
q journal devoted to that science. He was
a member of the faculty of Ann Arbor
university.
Successors Name Kept Secret.
1t was learned that Professor Harring-
tons successor has been chosen. His name
has not so far been divulged. but it is
known that a local forecaster has been SC.
lect"d. Concerning the appointment, Sec.
retary Morton said:
1.-The sole consideration will be to i'm.
prove the efficiency of the forecastine
work OF the weather bureau. II the
weather bureau cannot make forecasts
that are TO be credited, then it is not worth
perpetuating. The coming chief of the
bureau will be man Of about 20 years
experience, with executive ability, unim-
pcachable as to industry, fidelity and
sobriety. He has a high reputation as
msteorologist, and is not graduate OF
any OF the great colleges. He has never
been recommended for the place by
sin lie human being, and never knew he
was to be called until actually notified.
! have every confidence that he will be one
Of the best officers we have had here for a
long time"