The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-04-17
Grave Charges of Irregular
ity Preferred Against
Former Chief of the
Weather Bureau
SUBJECT REFERRED
TO DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE FOR INQUIRY
Wilson Refuses to Accept Resignation
of Moore, But Has Him Sum-
marily Removed From Of
fice-Others Implicated

Washington, April 1G.-Prof. Willis L.
1885, and an appontee of the Cleveland
administration was summarily removed
from office by President Wilson His
resignation recently had been accepted
to take effect July 81. but after an in
vestigation of his alleged efforts to be-
come Secretary of Agriculture in the
present cabinet, grave charges of irreg
llarity were preferred and the President
today withdrew his acceptance of the
resignation dsmissing Professor Moore
Later he referred the subject to the de-
partment Of justice for inquiry.
Secretary Houston of the agricultural
department. conferred with the President
announced. The secretary then issued
the following statement:
Files Charges
Immediately after the resignation of
was submitted to the President and ac-
cepted by him, charges were filed with
the Secretary of Agriculture by respon-
sble men within the service. These
charges We're of such grave nature that
the Secretary of Agriculture called upon
the department of justice for an investi-
cation.
'"rhe investigation is still under way.
but the facts so far secured and laid
before the President yesterday were suf-
fcient to warrant him in deciding to
withdraw his acceptance of Professor
Moores resignation and remove him
summarily, which has been done today.
The President has also directed the
Secretary of Agriculture to suspend Mr..
Charles I. Burns, an employe of the
weather bureau, pending further in
vestigation of his case, and take such
disciplinary measures as he may deem
necessary with such other employees Of
the weather bureau as may be found to
have been unduly active in using the
public service for private and personal
ends.''
The Presidents letter to Secretary
Houston directing Mr.. Moore's removal
was not made public
Unofficialy 1t was said at the White
House that the campaign to make Mr..
Moore Secretary of Agriculture had been
extensive. that members of Congress in
various parts of the country had been
canvassed and that letter writing cam
paign had been conducted among
weather bureau employees.
Attacked in Congress
Professor Moore has been a target for
attack in Congress Representative
Fowler of Illinois introduced resolu-
ton a few days ago calling on the
Secretary of Agriculture to advise Con-
gress regarding the appropriations for
official travelling expenses for the weather
bureau, what amount of the lump of
salaries in the weather bureau was ex7
pended for promotions of weather buJ
feau employees during last January and
February and the comparative figures
for the preceding four years. The reso-
luton asked for information as to what
journeys We're performed by Charles Il.
Burns under official orders and under
what instructions between July /, 1912,
and February 2s, last, and also called
for data regarding circulars and other
matter printed at government expense
and used by the chief OF the weather
bureau in his campaign for Secretary
OF Agriculture during the last fiscal
year.
The House committee on expenditures
In the agricultural department had
planned last year an exhaustive inves-
tigation into the weather bureau. but
was prevented from making ut on ac-
count of the Wiley inquiry, the Florida
everglades case and other special mat
ters. Representative Moss of Indiana
and democratic members of the commit
tee did take up special charges filel
against Professor Moore by James Berry,
a former employe of the weather bureau,
which related to misuse of the contn-
gent fund. The committee. Mr.. Moss
said today, never found enough in these
charges to press them for further in
quiry. 1t is proposed. however, to con-
duct a thorough investigation of the bll-
reau as soon as the committee is or
ganized. which probably will not be un-
I'll the regular session next winter.
Professor Moore issued a statement to-.
night declaring that the same influences
that attempted to disgrace and remove
DR.. Harvey w. Wiley were RESPONSE
BILE for his removal and branding as 'in-
famously false any intination that he
had coerccd employees of the weather bu-
1eau in supporting him for the secretary
ship or that public money had been ex-
lended in his candidacy.
His statement follows
Issues Statement
II an in. receipt of a letter from the
President of the United States saying that
an investigation of my conduct of the
business of the weather bureau discoses
such Irregularities on my part that the
interests OF the public service demand my
immediate removal.
In reply will say that it is the same
old Influence that attempted to disgrace
(Continued on Page Eixht)