Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-09-01
ASSERTED HIS RIGHTS
Col. Geddes Tells Of Friction
in His Department.
RESIGNED HIS OFFICE
GIVEN FURLOUGH BY THE SEC
RETARY OF AGRICULTURE.
He Discusses His Relations With His
Associates and Describes Unpleas-
antness Experienced.

ed furlough without pay, on his own ap-
plication by Secretary Wilson.
Col s. r. Burch. chief clerk in the bureau
of animal industry, has been appointed In
his place.
Secretary Wilson today stated that Col.
Geddes having had all the leave and sick
leave to which he was entitled with pay ana
still not being in condition to perform his
duties he had on his own request peen
granted furlough without pay.
It Is stated that Col. Geddes may be as
signed to some other duty in the depart
ment. though he will not again be made
chief clerk. 1t is understood at the depart
ment that differences have arisen between
the Secretary and Col. Geddes and that
for some time it has been contemplated
that he would be relieved from the duties
of the office Of chief clerk.
Col Geddes lives at Kensington. Nd, ana
there a Star reporter today found him.
Col. Geddes did not wish to say anything
about the differences between himself ana
Secretary Wilson, for whom he expressed
the highest regard. After considerable
hesitation he commented on his retirement
from the Office Of chief clerk
Resigned His Position.
'Yes 1t Is true" he said in reply to
question, that l have been furlougheo
without pay. but this was upon my own
reouest. 1t is not true that I have been
absent without permission. as has been
published. My health was bad. was
troubled with severe bronchitis. and Sec
retary Wilson told me to go away and re-
main until I was better.
I'm the meantime l rendered my reslg-
nation as chief clerk. 1 might remark
here. pertinently, that during my more
than six years service in the Department
of Agriculture ! have had less leave IMAM
any other official, and probably less than
any employe. For the first three years l
took about twenty days leave IN aii-the
first year taking not day
II felt that my duty required my pres
ence. as the Secretary and assistant sec
retarv would often be away at the same
time. This was before Prof. Moore was
DESIGNATED as acting secretary and au-
thorlzed to sign papers, etc. For over SIX
years 1 have hardly ever failed TO De az
my desk by $50 am and remain unui
after pm.
IT have received thousands Of callers and
treated them with the courtesy and kind
ness that should, in my humble opinion, De
given to every one. My treatment OF en-
ployes and coworkers in the department
has, as far as know. been uniformly just
and kind, and do not believe there Is one
who can truthfully say otherwise l 90
not remember ever even saying an unklno
word to an employe, and the poor cnar.
III.
per month received the same kind treat
ment from me as did others higher up. It
is my nature to always help those in hard
luck-in other words. the under dog
II decline to discuss Secretary Wilson.
It would manifestly be improper for me to
do so. I am still an employe of the de-
partment, although getting no pay.
Friction in the Department.
Eyes, I admit that there has been some
R,,I Ia 20, x1yifI =,
the Secretary, but have found fault. and
do now and ever shall. with the very irreg-
ular and Illegal methods which obtain in
tain party over there has impudently and
ignorantly arrogated to himself some of
the prerogatives Of the chief clerks office
and made himself very offensive.
quently brought 1t to the attention of the
secretary, without avail. This became al
most unbearable, and for months past I
have been on the point Of resigning.
duties of my office were faithfully and in
telligently performed. Ny assistant was a
most accomplished and competent clerk.
and may add here that l have never met
official life, and yet the assistant has been
tnsulted and unjustly rebuked by those
clothed in little brief authority
"In absolute violation Of the law certain
my Office OF course 1 resented this. Who
would not? If dissatisfaction existed to-
ward my Office the above was the cause.
I refused repeatedly to be party to trans
actions in the department, which l con.
sidered illegal, unwarranted and against
the best interests Of the public service
IT have nothing to say against Secretary
Wilson. as l before stated. When left to
his own best natural impulses he is most
kind hearted and great-minded man.
"Now, 1 want to add that l deprecate
beyond expression all newspaper notoriety
or publicity. I have scrupulously refrained
from talking while chief clerk.
"Probably my great fault has been, as
one in much higher authority and position
has frequently said, Colonel, you are too
d. kind hearted ETC." If SO twas a griev-
ious fault.
His Military Service.
Eyes, was in the military service nearly
twenty years. I enlisted in April,. 1861: was
elected captain the following October, when
tust sixteen; was elected lieutenant colonel
and commanded my regiment. the 9Th Iowa
Veteran Volunteer Infantry, for year, un-
til it's muster out l could not muster In
as colonel, because the regiment from long
and hard service of five years had become
so decimated in numbers that 1t was not
entitled to q colonelcy. l was the youngest
United States service. There were SIX
brothers Of US in Iowa regiments
.'Yes: am happy to say that have.
hope. many friends in official and private
life also in the House and Senate. I have
endeavored to do all in my power while
chief clerk to extend to representatives
senators and their secretaries that courtesy
to which they are at all times entitled, and
have always found them high-minded and
appreciative."
Col Geddes was a clerk in the pension
Office at the time of Secretary Wilson's en-
trance into the Department Of Agriculture,
and the Secretary appointed him to the
place he has now retired from.
He has been restored to the position OF
captain of infantry in the army by an aot
of Congress and placed on the retired list.
to date from June H. 1901. This position on
the retired list would give him 81 100 pei
annum. but in view of the law, which pro-
vides that no employe shall draw two sal
aries from the government he has never
received his pay as a retired captain OF the
army. 1t is understood that he cannot now
receive 1t without a special appropriation
for that purpose. His salary as chief clerk
of the Department OF Agriculture was
$2, 500 per annum.
The New Chief Clerk.
Col. 8. r. Burch, who succeeds Col