New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-07-03
CLEVELAND YIELDS HIS AXE
AND PROFESSOR HARRINGTON'S OFF,
CIAI HEAD FALLS.

PARTISAN POLITICS AND SClENCF COME iNIo
COLLISION IN THE WEATHER BUREAU WITH
DISASTER TO THE LATrER-sECRE-
TARY MORTON OBTAINS HIS
FNEMYs SCALP AT LAST
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
Washington July 2.-The summary removal an
nounced to-day Of Professor Mark w. Harrington.
the head OF the Weather Bureau Of the Agricult
ural Department. seems 20 indicate that Secre-
tary Morton has recovered something Of the favor
in which he stood at the White House until In an
evil hour some months ago he undertook to In
terpret one OF Mr. Clevcland's "sound-money"
manifestoes and found his presumption prompt
ly rebuked through official disclaimer. For
two years past as is well known. Secretary Nor
ton has borne a personal grudge against Pro
fessor Harrington and has persistently sought to
force his resignation or dismissal from office
Professor Harrington was appointed head Of the
Weather Bureau by President Harrison. and be-
ing an expert In meteorology and a man Of ac
knowledged sccntf, attainments he naturally
showed a disposition to resent some Of the cheap
ard baseless sarcasms and insinuations which
Secretary Morton ever since his appointment has
INDUCED in
Early in the present Administration Mr.. Har-
|
cisns Of the management Of the Weather Bureau.
and an investigation which followed showed the
Secretary's animadversiCn to be wholly mistaken,
while bv its disclosures the action and policy Of
the Sunerlntendent II the Weather Bureau were
fully sustained Since then Mr.. Morton has
rursed a grievance against his triumphant cub
ordinate and has repeatedly importuned the Pres
ident to force him ont OF Office For two years
Mr. Cleveland has hesitated. but perhaps as
mark OF the Secretarys full restoration TO execu-
tive confidence. has now yielded to Mr.. Mortons
demand for personal revenge.
SEEKING EXCUSES FOR THE PRESIDENT
The Secretary has refused TO maintain any but
the most distant and formal relations with Pro-
fessor Harrington since the disastrous result Of
the Investigation OF 1898. and the Presidents ac-
ion is now sought to be excused by his apoiogists
the ground that the head OF the Weather 8u-
reau ough; to be In personal as we'll ms official ac-
cord with the head OF the Department On June
10 President Cleveland sent word to Professor
Harrington that his resignation would be accepta-
bic. The Secretary had repeatedly since June l
urged the President 10 bring the matter TO
climax by calling FOR the resignation Of the Chief
but Mr.. Cleveland had refused TO Interfere on the
ground ,ha, IT for Professor Harrington to
settle the matter himself.
a lpN DAYS ago. however ifnUtIlitfly dlN'i Hir
arrival at Gray Gables for the summer. the Presi
dent wrote TO Professor Harrington asking for
his resignation. The return mail carried Professor
Harr.ngiOn's dcclination To resign from the pubic
seryice on the ground that he had done nothing TO
warrant such move on his part Almost iinile-
diatcly there came from Gray Gables letter In
forming Professor Harrington that he was re-
moved from his place as Chief Of the Weather Bu-
reau. TO take effect July l. Consequently. on sat
urday Professor Harrington quietly severed his
col, lon tif no Yesterday
tary Morton formally Designated James r. COOK.
the chief clerk to act chief ~ the Bureau
pending the selection " a successor
so PLACE FOR COMPETENT MEN.
Professor Harrington said this afternoon in ex-
planning the causes %; his election from of 20:
on Juno ~ me President asked for my resis,
give /, on the score OF public interests. and my re-
moval followed promptly taking eject July In' IT.
pcrsonal interests involved were discussed Y III,
in my letter TO ih- President and feel that !
have not received Just or consHefate uet'@lrnl @
with regard 20 them. Among the public Interests
which hav" had steadily in view were the pres"r.
Walton OF the scientific corps ana ne prot'ctyn
Inc hnrean dcsccnds TO the four-year office holding
plane II a. once loses prestige. and ceases 10 p'
desirable post for competent men.
Professor Harrington was appointed from
Michigan He was member Of the faculty OF
Ann Arbor University and had been the editor
Il a meteorological Journal. His scientific train
ing and strict adherence To tn. merit system IN
iyireau appninfmentS made him intensely oh-
i.ctiC nablr however Secretary Morton. Who
after two Years ~ effort has a. last succc"drd
In Kidding the Weather Bureau Of it's courageous
and competent head and reopening that Drah'h
~ the Department service 10 the Influences oi
personal and partisan politics
Major Dunwoody. Of the signal service. is
most prominently mentioned as PROFESSOR iar-
rington's successor. But the weather bureau
has been transferred To the control OF the NSr-
cultural Department. the Assignment nj an ARMY
officer for ,'is duty would require special orner
from the Secretary Of War and approval by the
President II was said tonight that MAJOR DUN
woody under the law. cannot be MADE chlei "i
the weather bureau such an appointment
would forfeit his commission In the Army. Hnou''
,h,s nrova "a be- the case IL Is among the proba-
blitirs that Major Dunwoody VIII ask 10 d" re-
leved ~ his detail assistant chief OF the
Bureau.