The Washington times., 1911-07-22
BERRY DECLARES
HE WILL CONTINUE
HIS WAR ON MOORE
Makes Explanation That He
Is Not Fighting Weather
Bureau.


James Berry. who has charged that
Willis L. Moore. chief of the Weather
Burea. attempted to employ the Rev.
rather F. L. Odenbach, curator OF the
observatory at st. Ignatius College,
Cleveland, Ohio, to make chronological
reports, though he could not have paid
him except unlawfully, declared today
that he was in the fight to stay.
I'm not opposed to the Weather Bu-
reau, and I appreciate that its work is
most valuable" Mr. Berry said. ''It
has made mistakes. Of course but It is
wonderful institution. But I am op-
posed to Mr.. Moore. 1t is Moore that
1 am fighting"
Berry, who lives at IA Third street
southeast. said today that II was a mis-
take to say that he had made the
| charges against Moore after he had re-
signed.
1T is incorrect" he said, ito state
| that l made these charges after I left
the bureau. l resigned to save my self
respect, and prevtou to resigning often
had opposed the policies OF the bureau
because 1 thought they were wrong.
AS to my charge that Mr.. Moore
tired 10 engage the Rev. F. l.. Oden-
bach. bach. Of Cleveland. despite the fact that
preparation for seismographic work, /
wish to say that he first made over
lures to Father Odenbach who is direc-
tor of the Jesuit seismographic observa-
tory at Cleveland. and that when these
were rejected, Mr.. Moore sent Charles
F. Marvin to Cleveland to induce Father
Odenbach to reconsider.
Father Odenbach's Letter.
Father Odenbach wrote me as fol-
lows:
81 cannot blame the committee, for
they were looking for information, but
as to Mr.. Moore, l must say he makes
very poor impression. Either he did
not know what he was talking about
or had something to hide. I suspect the
latter. though l should not know where
he acquired any clear knowledge of
modern chronological service, which has
about as much to do with meteorology
as the great Canadian forest fire."
Mr.. Berry declares that he was not
'dtscharged' or displaced" While he
was on a leave Of absence, he relates,
the division of which he was chief
the disbursing division-was abolish
ed. This, he said. was done for the
purpose Of getting rid of him, while
the offer of the position of observer at
Atlantic City. at $500. plus housing,
lights. and fuel. was made merely to
get him gracefully out Of the District
Berry declined the offer. he says.
The distributing division was abolished
August Is. 1911. Berry, hearing of the
order. which was issued August l. re-
signed August 10
The time seems to have arrived when
l must choose between important per-
sonal interests and my self respect" he
stated in his letter of resignation to the
Secretary of Agriculture.
Tells of Alleged Trick.
Berry and Moore had an interview
September 3. Berry relates. He says
that Moore had a stenographer con-
cealed in the room to take notes of their
conversation.
Berry then describes the conversation:
- He stated that he probably had
made a mistake in his estimate of
my mental and physical condi-
ton: and asked the absurd question
whether l could conduct the affairs Of
the Chronological division. My reply
in the affirmative was emphatic. but
which had been subjected must cease
This terminated our interview. and he
went Immediately to the department
and secured the prompt acceptance of
my resignation" Such is a part Of Mr..
Berry's statement.
berry SAID he mace statement Oh MS
case to the Secretary, and the Secretary
wrote:
From what is before me and from
what l can gather from Prof. Moore
and yourself. 1 do not think 1 can
meddle in the case with advantage 20
the service or yourself"
Berry's Services.
Berry relates in a pamphlet he has
prepared. that he entered the weather
servirc in 1873. 1t bears in black letters:
JAMES BERRY.
Weather Bureau.
1S7S-1910
When he entered the weather service
It was part os me Signal Corps Of the
army. He has three discharges as a
non-commissioned officer. all bearing
the character rating excellent"
He says he was promoted to $3.50 by
Secretary Wilson in 1906 Mr.. Berry
said that when he took a vacation July
25. 1910. he had no idea that 1t was in
tended to redu:e his salary or remove
him from the main office. He said his
home was here. he owned q small farm
near Washington. and his son was
studying law in in s local un,S ersity; ,,,s
the Rev. F. L. Odenbach, Of Cleveland:
one dollar" Prof. Willis L. Moore, chief
Of the Weather Bureau, said today
Il offered to employ Mr.. Odenbach
servations at $500 a year. but he de-
citned. 1t was perfectly in accordance
with the law for me to make the propo-
sition. and II he had accepted my prop
osition l should have employed him.
That was what Mr.. Moore said when
asked about the charges that James
Berry had made, to the effect that he
had tried TO employ Father Odenbach
and pay him unlawfully out of the con-
Urgency fund.
Chairman Moss, of the House Com
mittee on Expenditures in the Depart
ment of Agriculture. has announced
that his committee will consider the
charges filed by Berry.