The herald., 1895-07-03
PROF. Harrington REMOVED
The Chief of the Weather Bu=
reau Steps Out
BY ORDER OF THE PRESIDENT
He Claims That He Has Been Unfairly
Treated
His Successor Will Probably Be nnjor Dun-
woody of the Army, Who Is Very
Competent
A Associatcd Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, July 2. - Professor
Mark W. Harrington, chief of the weather
bureau, has been relieved from duty, ow-
ing to q disageem ent with Secretary Nor
ton.
Soon after the change in administration
Secretary Morton instituted an investiga-
tion of the business affairs of the bureau.
The results did not implicats Professor
Harrington in any way, but tended to in
crease the strained relations between
the secretary and hims 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 10Th, with call for the
professor to resign.
The president has had the matter under
adyisemeDt for some time, and had been
urged seevraI times to make the formal
request, but he delayed on the ground. it
is thought, that Professor Harrington
should be left to settle the matter by vol
unfairly stepping out. After he was at
Gray Gables. however, the president de-
cided to request the resignation. Profess
sor Harrington replied to the president
declining to resign, saying he considered
he had done nothing to warrant the pres
idents action. Then the president sent a
letter. briefly stating that Professor Har-
irngton was removed from the Office, the
removal to take effect July 1st.
Monday. m orning .Secretar p. Morton
formally designated James F. Cook, the
chief clerk. to act as chief of the bureau
pending the selection of a successor to
Professor Harrington. This was done
under an existing statute that provides
for such contingency. Under ordinary
circumstances the assistant chief of such
a bureau would be designated to set. but
in the present case this position is filled
by Major H. C.:Dunwoody. United States
army, and it is doubtful if he could act
as chief in the present emergency. The
greatest secrecy is observed by all the
officials regarding this removal. Secre-
tary Morton would not talk.
This is a matter" he said. that be-
longs properly to the White House. Pro-
fessor Harrington's commission bears the
name OF the president and not of the sec.
retary of agriculture and if there is any
thing to be stated in regard to the posi-
tion it must come from the. White House.
Until such announcement is made from
the White House l have no communica-
ton to make"
+ the White House no positive informa-
tion could be obtained Mr.. Pruden, the
acting private secretary, said he had no
authority to make any statement what
ever, and that until he had some authori-
cation from the secretary of agriculture
he could not say nothing whatever.
Professor Harrington himself said to-
day: ION the 10th of June the president
asked for nv resignation because of per-
sonal interests. l declined to give it on
the score OF public interests and my re-
moval followed, to take effect July 1st.
The personal interests involved were dis
cussed by me::in letter to the president
fnn1 kov NJ
ment.
among the public interests which I
have had steadily in view were the preser-
walton of the scientific corps and tue pro.
lection of that bureau from spoilsmen.
When q scientific bureau descends to the
four year office holding plan it at once
loses prestige and ceases to be desirable
position for competent men,"
Professor Harrington was appointed
from Michigan because of his long ac-
quaintance with m meteorology, he for many
years having been the editor of journal
devoted to that science. He was MEM
Der of the faculty or Ann Arbor univer-
sity.
1t is said that although there is some
pressure for the succession to Professor
Harrington s position, no civilian will be
appointed to that position, as it has long
been the desire of Secretary Morton that
Major Dunwoody, who is thoroughly ac-
quainted with all the details of the
weather bureau work, and In whom he
had great confidence. should be placed in
charge. This will require a special order
from the secretary of war and designa-
tion from the president and might also
necsstate the appointment and confrma-
tion by the senate, although it is known
that Major Dunwoody would not relin-
this preferment, which would mean no in
crease in pay for nlm.s