The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1913-04-23
MOVED FOR Cause
Chief OF WEATHER BUREAU
MOORE IS OUSTED
REASON NOT YET known

But the Facts to Date, 1t is Said
Justifies the President in Summar
iIy Dismissing Him For His Actor
in Seeking the Office Of Secretary
of Agriculture.
Prof. Willis l.. Moore, chief of the
weather bureau since 1895, and an
appointee Of the Cleveland admins
tration, Wednesday was summarily
removed from Office by President
Wilson. His resignation recently
had been accepted to take effect July
81, but after an investigation Of his
alleged efforts to become Secretary
of Agriculture in the present Cabi-
net grave charges of irregularity
were preferred and the President
Wednesday withdrew his acceptance
of the reignation, dismissing Prof
Moore. Later he referred the subject
to the department Of justice for in
quiry.
Secretary Houston, Of the agricul-
tural department, conferred with the
President before the removal of Mr..
Moore was announced. The Secre-
tary then issued the following state
ment: Immediately after the res
lignation of Prof. Moore, of the
weather bureau, was submitted to the
President and accepted by him,
charges were filed with the Secretary
| of Agriculture by responsible men
within the service. These charges
| were Of such a grave nature that the
Secretary Of Agriculture called upon
the department of justice for an in
| yestigation.
"The Investigation Is still under
way, but the fact so far secured and
laid before the President Thursday
we're sufficient to warrant him In de-
clining to withdraw his acceptance OF
| Prof. Moore's resignation and re-
move him summarily, which has been
done today. The President has
also directed the Secretary Of Agrl-
culture to suspend Mr.. Charles I.
| Burns, an employee Of the weather
bureau, pending further investiga-
ton Of his case, take such dlsclp-
linary 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 re-
noval was not made public. Unoffi-
cially 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
a letter-writing campaign had been
conducted among weather bureau
employees.
Prof. Moore has been a target for
attack in Congress. Representative
Fowler, of Illinois, introduced a res
olution a few days ago, calling on
the Secretary Of Agriculture to ad-
wise Congress regarding the appro-
priations for official travelling ex-
penses for the weather bureau, what
amount of the lump Of salaries in the
weather bureau was expended fo1
| promotions Of weather bureau en-
ployees during last January and Feb
ruary and the comparative figures Tor
the preceding four years.
The resolution asked for informa-
ton as to what Journeys were per
formed by Charles T. Burns, under
official orders and under what In
structions between July 1, 1912, and
Februay % last, and also called fol
data regarding circulars and other
matter printed at Government ex'
pense and FUSED by the chief Of the
weather bureau IN MS campaign loi
Secretary of Agriculture during the
last fiscal year..
The House committee on expendl
lures in the agricultural department
| had planned last year an exhaustive
investigation into the weather bu
reau, but was prevailed from making
it on account of the Wiley inquiry
the Florida Everglades case and 9th
er special matters. Representative
| Moss, of Indiana, and Democratic
members Of the committee, take W
| special charges filed against Prof
Moore by James Berry, former EN-
plovee of the weather bureau, which
related to misuse of the contingen
fund. The committee, Mt. Moss said
never found enough in these charges
to press them for further inquiry. l
l. is proposed, however, to conduct
thorough investigation Of the bureau
as soon as the committee is organ
lied, which probably will not be un
til the regular session next winter.