The Washington herald., 1907-03-03
MT. WEATHER WORK
Report of Littlefield Commit
tee to the House.
DECLARES IT UNAUTHORIZED
Comptroller TracewcII Concurs.
BurIes0n's Statement Favorable go
tisticaI Bureaus COMMUNICATIVE
mated VuIue of Work Of Branches.


the House Committee on Expenditures OF
the Department OF Agriculture. presented
10 the House yesterday a report on the
investigation that has been in progress
during the present session IN regard TO
the conduct of various public business
in the department Accompanying the
report is q volume Of I,ls0 pages giving
the testimony By various bureau and
division chiefs in the department
One OF the points found by the hives
tisation was the expenditure OF Si6l ,o93
for the purchase of site and the cree
ton OF buildings, their furnishing and
equipment for scientific purposes, and va
rious outgoes ia improvements. for the
research station at Mount Weather. on
the Blue Ridge. near Bluemont, Va. The
report states that this was wholly uoau-
thorized. When the project is completed
it viii have cost $4,000 and involves an
! appropriate Of from $500 10 $4,000 a
year for maintenance. Every dollar ex-
pended. however, the committee says Is
properly accounted for.
The history of the manner In which
the money referred 10 was used is given
al length in successive appropriation
bills. Congress began. in 1900, to appro-
pirate $4,000 for station buildings At At
lantic City. Hatteras. Tatoosh Inlet, and
other points. These buildings were built
at a cost OF about Sl0.OeJ each, including
equipment The following year the clause
appeared in the appropriation for the De
partment OF Agriculture. without the
names Of the stations that were 20 be
supplied with buildings. The matter OF
selection was left TO Prof Moore, head
of the weather bureaus. with the APP
prevail OF the Secretary of Agriculture.
Prof Moore. in 1903. began the research
station at Mount Weather. taking the
funds from the appropriation for station
buildings A tract of land. consisting Of
ninety acres, and lying five miles south
of Bluemont. OH top of the Blue Ridge
Mountains. was bought Of Nj Herbert
r. l. Allen. Of this city Eight or nine
buildings. some OF considerable value,
have been erected, and "A vast amount Of
improvement In the way Of roads and
landscape work has been done
Specific Points Not Named.
The report states that Prof Moore
was in error. but 1t appears that in a
hearing following the appropriation for
the buildings at Atlantic City and other
places. AIr. Moore asked the Committee
on Agriculture of the House not TO insert
names Of points where the bureau de-
sired to put up buildings. as ne and the
Secretary were being flooded with re-
quests that appropriations be asked for
buildings al certain places. and il would
be better 20 leave the whole matter 10
the discretion Of the chief Of the bureau.
Secretary Wilson. when his attention
was called TO the matter. said that while
no appropriation was distinctly made for
Mount Weather. he understood that the
House committee knew all about IT, and 81
was all right. This was also the answer
of Prof. Moore Mr. Littleheld called
members OF the Committee on Agricul-
ture. and some of them declared they had
never heard of Mount Weather in the
way claimed by Prof. Moore.
Nr. Burlcson. OF Texas. however. made
The following statement. with. reference TO
a hearing Of The Agriculture Committee.
at which Prof. Moore appeared. Il must
say that the impression was left on ms
mind that part Of the money 10 equip and
complete Mount Weather was going TO
come cut Of the fund. or item. carrying
In the bill the money for buildings at
stations"
Mr.. LiuIefeld called S r. Jacobs. chief
of the miscellaneous division in the Fifth
auditors Office. lie said that the accounts
for Mount Weather had been passed with
out question until about year and a half
ago II had been supposed that tn,
auditor then Col Timme. had talked
them over with the Comptroller Judge
Tracewell Mr.. Littledeld wrote 10 the
comptroller. who replied that there had
never been any conversation between Col
Tlmme and himself. nor any one else.
about the Mount Weather accounts.
ComptroIIer's Opinion.
Comptroller Traceweu. in an opinion
asked by Mr.. Littlefeld, states that the
expenditures at Mount Weather are. from
beginning to end. without warrant of
law. I have the honor 10 say" writes
Comptroller Tracewen, that under
existing law there has been no authority
for the construction or development OF
the station at Mount Weather as con-
structed or proposed to be developed"
The report says that every dollar dis
burSed on the Mount Weather establish
meut has been properly accounted for.
- majority of thc committee disagrees
with Chairman Litue6eld's conclusions
about Prof. Moore. and viii file q report
eNOuGTIilElC MN IN inc matter OF The
Mount Weather STATEN.
The committee investigation also. among
other things. the expenditure of $500
gnder the Fessendeu contract for discov-
cry work in wireless telegraphy. Again
the comptroller WAS asked for an opin-
ion. which. in brief. is as follows.
On January 9. 1891. / rendered "a deci-
sion which had its foundation ia The reyi-
sion of the accounts of Frank H. Evans.
l;sbUrsing clerk of the Department OF
Agriculture, wherein / held that the aD-
preparation for general expenses.
Weather Bureau. for 1900 could not be
used 20 pay the expenses incurred in ex-
perimentatiOn in wireless biography
Why the auditor passed accounts after
the date Of said decision containing items
Of expense for experimental work in
wireless biography, 1 am unable TO state
u was his duty 20 apply the decisions Of
the comptroller to the settlement of such
( accounts
The contract referred to with Reginald
a. Fessenden was, in my judgment not
authorized by law.
As a result of its inquiry into the work
ing of the Forestry Service. the commit
tee says in conclusion: "A careful and
intelligent investigation Of the work per-
formed by the personnel of this service,
as compared with that performed in Ger
tain bureaus of other departments under
the statutory roll. shows that the Forest
Service has been getting for 5000 a better
service than these other bureaus have
been getting for S1,400; getting more done
and better work.
Mr.. OImsted Commended.
Referring to the Chief Of the Bureau of
Statistics, the report says:
Mr.. Olmsted is undoubtedly man
of fine executive ability, and. in our judg-
mani i1nnrnrna-ad The hl.eir.ns. cn,atinns