The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-08-09
IN FACT", SAYS SECRETARY REDFIELD
 OF HUGHES CHARGES

Washington, Aug. s.-Statements made by Charles E. Hughes, Republi- can nominee for the Presidency, in speeches at Detroit yesterday were characterized as false as to facts and of misleading substance in telegrams sent by administration officials last night after a long discussion of the subject by President Wilson and his cabinet at yesterdays meeting. The charges related to changes in the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Census Bureau, which the candidate had referred to as raids on the civil service.
 Secretary of Commerce Redfield, from Binghamton, N. r., telegraphed to Secretary Tumulty denying the charges made by MT. Hughes, and later sent a similar telegram to MT. Hughes. Edwin F. Sweet, Acting Sec retary in MT. Redfield's absence, also telegraphed MT. Hughes. giving a de- tailed rcfutation of the charges. ,. Mr. Hughes cited the retirement of E. Dana Durand as director of the census, and the appointment of Will liam J. Harris in his place, and the re- placement of o. H. Tittman as head of the Coast and Geodetic Survey by Dr. E. Lester Jones. MT. Redfield's telegram to Secretary Tumulty said:
 Redfeld's Strong Denial
 statement of Hughes respecting appointments census and coast sur vey in Detroit false as to facts and of misleading substance. You may say from me Durand of census retired voluntarily, was not removed or re- tired. I recommended him to present employment HaSris succession was not political. Made fine record and promoted trade commissioner for merit.
 "Tittman. coast survey, retired vol untarily after my refusing one resig- nation. Jones, his successor, promot- ed for meritorious work as deputy commissioner fisheries, has made won- derful record installing new life into service"
 Mr. Sweets telegram to MT. Hughes follows:
 'In a speech at Detroit yesterday you are quoted as saying:
 We had in the Coast and Geo.
 detic Survey an eminent scientist,
 a man who had won distinction in
 connection with his scientific
 work, a man of very eminent
 rank. He was displaced to make
 room for an excellent stock breed-
 CT and veterinary surgeon.
 In the Coast of Geodetic Sur
 yey we have had a very extraor-
 dinary condition with regard to
 expert places I mean places that
 d.
 laws. I shall not go into the exact
 figures. In the year ending about April. 1916, there were taken out
 104. that is. appointments by
 executive action, removed from
 the operation of the Civil Service
 Commission.
 I believe that about twenty
 three were made after seeking
 the advice and with the approval
 of the Civil Service Commission
 and believe that sixty-two were I
 made in opposition to the advice
 of the Civil Service Commission.
 Wanted to Resign.
 "In the absence of SZhe Secretary of the Department of Commerce Gone of the bureaus of which is this coast and geodetic survey3 I deemed it my duty to correct some grave errors in the foregoing statement. Dr. Titt- man, Superintendent of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, the scientist to whom you refer, was not displaced in February or March. 1915. He came to my office and told me that he had determined to resign on account of ill health.
 "He said that he had reached the conclusion many months before and had already purchased a place in Leesburg, Va, which he expected to make his home. corpIlunicated this information to Secretary Redfeld, who expressed surprise and regret. pr. Tittman's action was entirely voluntary and was not the result of any request or suggestion of the de- partment, direct or indirect.
 You refer to E. Lester Jones, his successor, as stock breeder and veterinary surgeon. At one time he had a farm in Virginia on which he raised stock. This was sold some time before he entered the Govern ment service. He never was veter- mary surgeon. He is a gentleman of education and refinement. Before his to succeed Dr. Tittman he was Deputy Commissioner of Fish cries (another bureau of this depart ment), and displayed administrative talent of such high order that he was deemed by both the Secretary and myself worthy of recommendation to fill the vacancy in the Coast and Geo. detic Survey. In our judgment, this bureau was well equipped from the scientific standpoint, but stood in great need of a man of executive ability to direct and organize it's work.
 What Jones Has Done.
 About two months elapsed be- tween the resignations of Dr. Tittman and the appointment of Mr. Jones. During that interval and before the recommendation was made, sugges- tions and advice were freely sought from parties who knew the qualifica- tions of MT. Jones. and also from parties who knew the needs of the bureau, some of them of tine highest standing in the scientific world
 Since the appointment of MT. Jones tle wire drag work on both the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, and the coast survey and all other work of the bureau have been developed and prosecuted with marked vigor and success.