Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1895-07-12
roEsArhER BUREAU ROW.
assassination of the Dismissal OF
Chief Harrington.

assassination of the Dismissal of
!. Chief Harrington.
Washington, July A call was
mace June 10 for Professor Harring-
tonss resignation. He declined to re-
Sign, and was subsequently, removed by
the president, the removal to take effect
July /. James f. Cook, chief clerk OF
the weather bureau, is acting head OF
the hureua until Harrington S successor
SIS appointed. The relations between
Secretary Morton and Harrinton have
been strained for many months, and
the correspondence between them has
been carried on in the most formal Ian
guage.
Soon after the change in administra-
ton, Secretary Morton instituted an in
vestigation of the affairs of the bu-
reau, which did not implicate Harring-
ton in any way, but tended to increase
the strained relations between the Sec
rotary and himself. For some time
Professor Harrington has had practi-
cally nothing to do with the routine
management of the Office. The trouble
came to climax June 10, with call
for the professor to resign.
The president has had the matter
under advisement for some time, and
had been urged by the state depart
ment to make a formal request, but de-
layed ON the ground that he thought
that Professor Harrington should be
left to settle the matter by voluntary
stepping out. After he was at Gray
Gables, however, the president decided
to request the resignation. Professor
Harrington replied to the president, de-
Ginning to resign, saying he considered
he had done nothing to warrant the
presidents action. Then the president
sent letter briefly stating that Pro-
fessor Harrington was removed from
the Office, the removal to take effect
July l.
Monday morning Secretary Morton
formally designated James F. Cook,
the chief clerk to act as chief, pending
selection of a successor to Harring-
ton. This was done under an existing
statute that provides for such contin-
gency Under ordinary circumstances,
the assistant chief of such bureau
; would be designated to act, but in the
present case, the position is filled by
Major II. c. Dunwoody, U. s. A, and
it is doubtful if he could act in the
present emergency. The greatest Sc
crecy is observed by officials regarding
this removal Secretary Morton said;
"This is a matter that belongs prop.
erly to the White House. Professor
: Harrington's commission bears the
; name of the president, and of the Sec
l rotary of agriculture, and if there is
anything to be stated in regard to the
position, it must come from the White
l House. Until such announcement is
> made, 1 have no communication tc
: make. "
At the White House no positive in
= formation could be obtained. Mr..
l Pruden, the acting private secretary
said he had no authority to make any
statement, and until he had authority
: he could not say anything whatever.
! Professor Harrington said today:
June 10, the president asked me fol
my resignation because of personal in
q terests. l declined to give it on the
q score of public interests, and my re-
9 moval followed, to take effect July l.
q The personal interests involved were
q discussed by me in letter to the pres
o ident, and feel l have not received
= fair treatment. Among the public in
g terests which have steadily in view
p were the preservation of the scientific
r crops, and the protection of the bureau
q from spoilsmen. When scientific
n bureau descends to the four-year- office
A holding plan, it at once loses prestige
g and ceases to be a desirable position fo
: competent men,"
p Professor Harrington was appointed
!. from Michigan, because of his long &C
o quaintance of meterology, he for man.
). years having been the editor of a jour
= nal devoted to that science. He was
q member of the faculty of Ann Aarbo
> university. 1t is said that although
n there is some pressure for the success
% sion to Professor Harrington s position
no civilian would be appointed to tina
position, as it has long been the desir
of Secretary Morton that Major Dun
IS woody, who is thoroughly acquainte
e with all the details of the weather bu
j. reau work, and in whom he has grea
n confidence, should be placed in charge
10 This will require special order fror
10 the secretary of war.