The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-04-17
Weather Chief Blames
Them for His Removal
From Office.
TALKS OF THIRD
DEGREE METHODS
Moore, Summarily Removed
From Head of Bureau for
Irregularity, Brands Charges
Against Him as UNANIMOUSLY
False"-Welcomes In
vestigation.

Washington, April 1G.-Professor
Willis l.. Moore, chief of the Weather
Bureau since 1905, nnd an nppointce
OF the Cleveland ndminist ration, to-
day was Summarify removed from Of
flee by President Wilson. His rcsIEna-
tion recently hnd been accepted 10 take
effect July 81, hut after nm investiGn-
tion of his alleged efforts to become
Secretary of Agriculture In tho pres
ent Cabinet, grave charges of irreE-
uinrity were preferred and the Presi-
dent to-day Withdrew his acceptance
OF the resignation. dIsmissing Profess
sOr Moore. Later he referred tho sub
jcct to the Department OF Justice for
Inquiry.
Secretary Houston. of the Agricul-
tural Department. conferred with the
President before the removal of Mr.
Moore was announced The secretary
then issued the following statements:
Immediately after the resignation of
Professor Moore, OF the Weather
Bureau. was submitted to the Presi-
dent and accepted by him, charges were
filed with the Secretary of Aericul-
ture by responsible men within the SER
vice. These charges were OF such 4
grave nature that the Secretary of Ag-
riculture called upon the Department
OF Justice for an investigation.
BURNS Also Suspended.
The investigation is still under
way. but the facts SO far secured and
laid before the President Yesterday
were SUFFICIENT to warrant him in de-
Gliding to withdraw his acceptance OF
Professor Moores resignation and re-
move him summariIy. which has been
done to-day. The President has also
directed the Secretary of Agriculture
to suspend Charles r. Burns an EN-
ploye OF the Weather Bureau. pend
ing further investigation 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.
Cnoficially, il was said at the White
House that the campaign TO make Mr.
Moore Secretary OF Agriculture had
been extensive. that members OF Con-
Gress in various parts OF tho coun-
try had been canvassed and that n let
ter writing campaign had been con-
Quoted among Weather Bureau en-
ployes.
Professor Moore has been a target
for attack In Congress. Representa-
tive Fowler. of Illinois. introduced a
resolution few days ago calling on
the Secretary OF Agriculture to advise
for official travelling expenses for the
Weather Bureau, what amount of the
lump salaries in the Weather Bureau
was expended for promotions OF
Weather Bureau employees during last
January and February and the com
parative figures for the preceding four
years. The resolution asked for in
formation as to what journeys were
performed BY Charles T. Burns, under
official orders, and under what instruc-
tons between July l. 1912, and Fcbru-
airy IS 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"
Investigation Delayed.
The House Committee on Expendi-
tursc in the Agricultural Department
had planned last year an exhaustive
investigation into the Weather Bureau,
but was prevented from making 1t on
account of the Wiley inquiry, the Flor
Ida everglades case and other special
matters Representative Moss OF In
diana, and Democratic members of the
committee did take up special charges
filed against Professor Moore by James
Berry, a former cmploye of the weather
Bureau, which related to misuse of the
contingent fund. The committee, Mr..
MOSS SAID to-day, never found enough
in these charges to press them for FUR
ther inquiry. 1t is proposed, however.
to conduct thorough investigation
OF the bureau as soon as the commit
tee is organized, which probably will
not be until the regular session next
winter.
"Infamously False"
Professor Moore issued statement
tonight declaring that the same in
fuences that attempted to "disgrace
and remove Dr. Harvey w. Wiley" were
responsible for his removal and brand
ing as UNANIMOUSLY false" any intima-
tion that lie had coerced employees of
the Weather Bureau in supporting him
for the secretaryship or that public
money had been expended In his can
didacy.
His statement follows:
II am In receipt of letter from the
President OF the United States saying
that an investigation OF my conduct
CONTINUED on Thirteenth PagcO