Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-11-17
CAREER IN WEATHER BUREAU
STORY OF PROF. HARRINGToN'S
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.
His Quarrel With Secretary Morton
and Defense by His Friends
as Martyr.

Prof. Mark W. Harrington. who wa
recently found by his wife a hopeless
lunatic in the New Jersey Asylum fo
the Insane, was summarily removed from
his position as chief of the weather bu
reau by President Cleveland, July I, 1895
Prior to the time of his removal ther,
had been friction between Prof Harring
ton and Secretary of Agriculture Morton
his official superior. 1t is stated that 81
severe had been the strain in their rela
lions that Ii was understood they had hello
no personal communication with eacl
other for more than year. Their cor
respondence had been confined to writing
OF the most severely official style.
the difficulty came to climax soor
after the change of administration, whel
Secretary Morton instituted an investi
cation into the business affairs of the
weather bureau. the results of which die
not implcate Prof. Harrington in any
way. This fact however, did not ease
the strain between the chief of the
weather bureau and the Secretary OF
Agriculture. and it was understood that
for nearly two years the weather chief
had had practically nothing to do witt
the routine management of his office, the
weather bureau in the meantime having
been governed almost entirely from the
Agriculture department.
Secretary Morton on several occa sions
strongly fntimated to Prof Harrington
that his resignation would be acceptable
but the head meteoroligist steadfastly re-
fused to resign his position. and his re.
movai followed.
President Cleveland sent word to Prof
Harrington June -. 1880 that his resigna
ton would be acceptable. as Secretary
Morton had repeatedly urged the Presi-
dent TO bring the matter to climax BY
return mail Prof Harrington sent to
PRESIDENT Cleveland a communication in
which he positively declined to resign
from the public service. He claimed that
he had done nothing to warrant such a
move on his part. Almost immediately
there came from Gray Gables, where
President Cleveland was spending his va
cation. a letter informing Prof Harring-
ton that he was removed from his position
as chief of the United States weather
bureau. to take effect July 1. 1885
The greatest secrecy was preserved by
all the officials regardin., the removal of
Prof. harrington. In a statement follow
ing his dismissal Prof. Harrington said the
public interests which he had steadily in
view We're the preservation Of the scien-
tfhc corps and the protection of the
weather bureau from the spoilsmen
When a scientific bureau descends to the
four-year office-holding plane" he added
II an once losses prestige ,and ceases to
be desirable post for competent men,
Harringtons friends claimed that he
Mas derosed from office because he had
.es:isted all efforts to supplant the en-
ployes around him with the political APP
pointees of the Secretary of Agriculture
and that this gave rise to the beginning
of the strain of relations that placed the
two officials at daggers' points They also
claim that Prof. Harrington was not per-
sonally involved in the scandal which fol
lowed the investigation of the weather
bureau