The Washington times., 1902-02-01
ASKS CONGRESS- 70
INVESTIGATE BUREAU
Clerk O'Connell's OCharge:
Against Chief Austin.
FORMER DISMISSED YESTERDAY
Says Chief of Treasury Bureau of
statistics Uses Government Data.
Stationery. and Employees In Pri-
Natc Enterpriscs-Cites Alleged In
stances.

| Secretary Gage yesterday caused Mr. ]
D. O'Connell, the financial clerk of th,
Statistical Bureau of the Treasury De.
partment, to he dismissed from the serv-
| ice. Mr.. O'Connell has been in the Gov
crnment service since 1866.
| 1t was stated at the Treasury Depart
| ment that the dismissal of Mr.. O'Connel
was based on charges brought against
| MIR. O'Connell by Mr.. o. p Austin, chiei
of the Statistical Bureau. Mr. Austin
| claimed Mr.. O'Connell had ransacked his
private correspondence after Office hours
Mr.. Gage considered this a most serious
| offence and gave Mr.. O'Connell oppor-
| tunity to resign or look for a transfer
TO another department. Mr.. r.-o'Connell re-
fused both.
Congressional Investigations Likely
Congressional investigation of the bu-
reau will probably follow as a result OF
the dismissal OF Mr.. O'Connell. Mr.
O'Connell has prepared a synopsis of the
charges which he makes against Chief
Austin, and has placed the papers in the
hands of Representative Cannon, chair
priations. He is now writing out a de-
tailed, signed statement OF the entire
matter, upon which resolution will be
offered in the House. asking for an in
vestigation of the bureau
MIR. OCOnncIEs Charges.
Mr.. O'Conneil, in his signed statement,
charges that his former chief is con-
stantly using his Office for private gain,
and that he is utilizing the services and
time Of employees of the bureau under
him to exploit and carry on private
schemes; that employees of the Govern
ment are diverted from their legitimate
work TO assist Mr.. Austin in his enter
pTisos and that Government stationery
and equipments are being used by Mr.
Austin for these purposes3tHe goes on
tc cite number OF specific instances.
Cites Alleged Abuses.
He alleges that Xr. Austin, some time
last fall, prepared a statement of finan-
cial conditions, imports. and exports for
the London Daily Mail Annual which
was gotten UP by clerks in the bureau
under Mr.. Austin's direction and that
when the publication was received in
Washington he caused to be printed IN
the newspapers certain extracts from the
statistics. under the caption, F"What John
Bull Thinks of U.s." white as matter of
fact, he AYERS, the statistics were fur
nished for compensation by Mr. Austin.
He further states that Mr. Austin de-
la,ga ,or,ia,, ~
pairing statistical information for private
individuals, corporations and companies,
for which he receives remuneration, and
that he makes business OF arranging and
computing statistics, gathered at Govern
ment expense, and is paid for the work
by such persons as he supplies.
He charges that Mr.. Austin soicits or
ders for newspaper and magazine arti-
cles. based upon the information which
he Government collects under his bureau.
and that these articles and statistics are
prepared by Mr.. Austin during business
hours and with the assistance of the bu-
rcau clerks.
"FIoatinG school" Project.
a recent project, in which Mr.. Austin
is interested, Mr. O'Connell states, is
merce." He proposes to despatch a ves-
sci, laden with American products Of the
farm and factory, on cruise around the
world. calling at all ports, 10 show the
things which this country makes and
raises. and that he has been urging the
scheme before boards of trade. business
exchanges and similar organizations, hay
Ing his clerks write numerous letters dur
ing Office hours. on Government station
cry. Just before Secretary Shaw was Sc
leCted for the portfolio he now holds. Mr..
Austin wrote him, Mr.. O'Connell alleges,
enquiring about Des Moines man who
sought TO assist him in his project. Mr..
O'Conncll also states that Mr.. Austin has
spent much time upon Il patent score
card
offered Data to Democrats.
He further charges that. while holding
office under a Republican Administration,
Mr.. Austin volunteered, just before the
last Presidential campaign. TO supply MIR.
Bryan with information which would as
sst him in his canvass. Mr.. OConnell