Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1913-04-17
Summary Action by President
Wilson in Case Of Prof. Viii
lis E. Moore.
HE WAS TO RESIGN JULY 81
Grave Charges Led to With
drawal of Acceptance-Mat.
ter Referred to Depart
ment Of Justice.

WASHINGTON. Aprl 1G.-Prof Willis T. |
Moore, chief OF the weather bureau since
lSa1. today was snmmarily removed from
OFFICE by President Wilson. His rcsigna-
tior recently had hrrr accepted to take
effect Julv g. but after an investigation
or his alleged Efforts to bccom" secretary
OF agriculture In the present cabinct grave
charges of rrcguarty worc preferred and
the President to-day Withdrew his accept
ancc OF .he resignation and dismissed
Professor Moore I.a'or he referred the
subject 20 tn" department Of Justice for
inquiry
Secretary Houston Of the agricultural
department conferred with the President
before the removal Of Mr Moore wae an
nounced. Th, secretary ,ncn issued tho
folowing statement
Immediately after the resignation Of
Prof"sso' Moore Of the weather bureau
vas submitted 80 the President and ac-
ceptod tv him "harees wore flied with
the secretary of agriculture by RESPONSE
hl" mon within tn, service. These charges
Wer" Of such grave nature that the sec
Rotary of agriculture called upon tho de-
partment of justice for an investigation.
he investigation Is still under way
but the facts so far secured. and laid
before the President yesterday were
sufficient to warrant him in deciding to
withdraw his acceptance of Professor
Moore's resignation and remove him
summarily. which has been done TODAY
| The President has also directed tho
secretary of agriculture to suspend
Charles 7 Burns, an empoyc OF the
weather bureau. pending a further in
vestigaton OF his case. and To take such
| disciplinary measures as he may deem
| necessary with such other employees of
| he wea her bureau as may he found to
| have been undulY active in using the
public service for private and personal
ends"
The Presidents letter to Secretary
Houston directing Mr.. Moores removal
was not made public hut il was stated
at the White House to charge such ir-
regulartios and misuse of powers as to
require the immediate dismissal Of the
weather bureau chief in the interest Of
the public service.
Cnofticialy it wa 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 tho country had been
,anvas-cd and that letter writing cam
paigu had uc,n conducted amons wealth.
,r puroau employees
MOORE TARGET FOR CONGRESS.
Professor Moore has been target Tor
| attack in Congress y few days ago
| Representative Fowler of Illinois intro
duced a resolution calling on the secrc-
tary of agriculture to advise Congress
regarding the appropria tions for official
travelling expenses for the weather bu-
rcau. what amount of the lump sum of
salaries in the weather bureau was eN-
pended for promotions of weather bu-
ieau employees during last January and
February and the comparativ. figures for
the preceding four years. The resolution
asked for information "a to what jour
neys were performed by Charles I
Burns. under official orders and under
what instructions. between July /, l9l2
and February Is. last and also called loi
data regarding circulars and other mat
ter printed at government expense anc
used by the chof of the weather oureat
iu his campaign for secretary II aFrcUl
tIrD during the last NSca. year.
Tho House committee on c%p,ndI;urr'
IN the agricultural department had plan
ned last Year an exhaustive iuV"st'Sat''
into tin weather. bureau bat was prevent
81 from m4kiuI II on account of the Wy
lie iuQuiry tn. Florida FE"rcladrS "ls'
and other special matters Representa-
tive Moss OF Indiana ard dcmociati'
members OF the committee aid take II
special charges hlcd against Professor
Moore by Jomos prrry, former en-
plov. of the weather bureau, which re
lated TO misuse OF the contingent funds
Tho committee Mr. Moss said to-day
never found enough In these charges u
press them for further inquiry. II Is pro
= posed however, to conduct a thorough
investiga tion Of the oureau as soon a!
the committee Is organized which prob
ably will not he until the REGULAR session
reNt winter.
1 STATEMENT BN MOORE
. Professor Moore issued a statement to
| night declaring that the same influence
. that attempted to disgrace and rcmov
= Or. Harvev W Wiley" were responsible
. for mis- removal and branding as "inram
p ously false" any intimation that he Ia,
+ cncr,Cd crployes Of IN" weather burna'
: in supporting him for the secrctaryshiI
!
i in W, candidacy. His statement in par
y follows.
4 As an a~pirant for the secrctalYshi,
e. of agriculture I announced that ! would
e lif appointed revoke tho benzoate o
4 soda decision, abolish the Rcmseu board
+ OF any other extra judicial body IN III
g. department that thought had bee
Il designed for thc purpose OF miuimizm
G. the effectiveness of the pure food an
/ meat inspection laws, Nther than il
aiding IN their efficient enforcement
r and that | would restrain the activitie
= of the solicitors office 10 rcasouahl
3. prcrogatNos and rcorgani2, the depart
70 ment
- Il was not selected and ~ course hay
n no complaint on that ground, But Seere
. tary Houston almost Immediately upo
entering once demanded that ] forwer
to the President my resignation wtthou