Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-07-11
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, July s; 1895.

reau. and the causes which led to 1t,
and that you will be convinced-that
Mr.. Cleveland's claim to being civil
service reformer Is fraudulent one.
When Congress made IL civil bureau
under the Agricultural department
President Harrison selected Prof.
Harrington an its head, regardless of
politics, solely bccause OF his reputa-
tion as an expert In meteorological
matters, he having been for many
years editor of journal devoted to
that science, in addition to being a
member of the faculty of the Michi-
gan University. Prof. Harrington
had trouble with Secretary Morton
very soon after the present admins.
tration came IN, besause of his refu-
sal to allow the officials under him
whose duties require scientific knowl-
edge to be dismissed to make room
for democratic politicians. and that
trouble has continued ght along.
An investigation into the business
affairs of the Weather Bureau was
started with the hope that something
would be found to justify Prof. Har-
rington's removal, but 1t failed OF its
object Mr.. Cleveland then asked
Prof. Harrington tn resign, but that
gentleman declined. He was then
peremptorily removed, the order COM
ing from Buzzard's Bay. Prof. Har-
rington declines to say much about
his removal, but what he does say
tells the story-"Among the public
interests which / have had steadily
in view were the preservation OF the
scientific corps of the protection Of
the bureau from the spokesman.
When a scientific bureau descends +,
the four-years otfice-holding plane,
it at onco loses prestige and cases to
bea desirable post for competant men.
A little speculative transac tion has
become public that has not increased
the good standing OF the individual
oficlal directly concerned nor of the
administration Of which he is a mem.
Der. Mr.. w. A. Mllliken, who is
Assistant Attorney General for the
Post Office department-the man
who furnishes the legal advice for
that branch of the government, has
been sued by local stock broker for
the payment of check for 800 that
he gave the broker and then stopped
the payment OF. The particulars Of
the transaction, which follow, are
not creditable to Mr.. Milliken: He
ordered the broker to purchase 100
shares of Chicago gas stock for him
when a specified price was reached.
The broker did so and sent copy Of
the contract to Mr.. Milliken, who
accepted 1t and gave his check for
Sl0l. He, Of course, thought that the
stock would go up after his purchase
and enable him to sell at a proat;but
instead it went down until his S1CO
was lost-the margin it covered be-
ing wiped out. Then Mr.. Milliken
went to the bank on which the
check was drawn and ordered It's
payment stopped, and when the pay
ment was demanded of him PERSONAL
ly he refused, and said that the
transaction being gambli ng and
therefore illegal he could not be com.
PEELED to pay the money. Nice sort
of law officer isn't he. Like other
skin gamblers he squeals when he
loses. The lesson Of the sugar specu-
lating Senators seemingly had no eff
feet, Notwithstanding the public in
dignat ion it aroused.
BY withholding large sums of money
which are due and should have been
paid and by Juggling system of
bookkeeping which would not be toll
Grated by any private business estab-
lishment, the administration succeed
ed in holding the deficit for the fiscal
year just closed down to s42, 1875, 049.
But the strangest thing about the
whole disgraceful business Is that
some of the democrats actually pre-
tended to be proud of the showing
made. Ye gods. proud of 80 run
ming the government in year OF
profound peace that its expenditures
exceed its receipts by nearly forty
three million dollars The people
feel about this thing just as the
stockholders Of business corporation
would feel IL similar showing were
made at the end of years business
that a change OF management was
necessary. True an immediate
change cannot be had, but 1t has been
ordered, and when the republica q
Congress meets the administration
power for evil will be partially taken
away; and on March 4th, 1897, a re-
publican administration will take
charge ofthe government and the ell
be no more deficits or juggling with
the Treasury bookkeeping.