New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-08-10
WASHINGTON.
coiLECroR DEcKER's REMOVAL.

COLLECTOR DECkERS REMOVAL.
INTERESTING EXPLANATIONS FROM TIE DEPART
MEST As 10 THE CAUSES OF IT,
(Br TELEGRAPH THE TEIBusEl
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9.-The letter written to
THE TRIBUNE by exCollector Decker, an abstract OF
which was published to-day has attracted considerable
attention at the Treasury Department Assstantsecre
tary Mccormick being applied to for Information ON
the subject makes the following explanation;
From the time Mr. Mccormick became Assstantsecre-
tary Of the Treasury until Mr. Deckcrs arrival In wash
ington the former had given attention to the subject
Of Internal Revenue appointments; all those matters
having been attended by the President, Secretary
sherman and Commissioner Raum. When Mr.
Decker came here. the papers In his case
were all referred to Assistant Secretary Mccormick ava
before he had time to examine them. be undoubtedly
said to Decker that his removal due 10 consoda-
ton of the districts he supposed that to be fact IL
is that there change in the locality OF the
district OF which Mr. Decker Collector. and that has
always been hold Ivy the Treasury Department to be su
1cient reason for changing the Collector without
assigning any other. Subsel 1eutly, when MI NC
Cormick had time TO examine the papers lie
found that Secretary shcrman action was based on
report made by Special Agent Clarke, showing DecAers
ncompotency beyond question: and his failure 10 alehd
his official duties lWhen ne ascertanedt these facts MI
Mccormick informed Decker OF them. and forwarded 10
him copy OF the Special Agents report
The circumstances OF Dir. Deckers removal "a shown
bY The file IN tne
that Special gent Clarke OF his tours of invcs
CATION for the purpose Of examining the
books of the Offices Of tho different lnternal
Revenue collectors. stopped Mt Rochester and
made an examination OF Deckers ONCE NO ac-
cusaons ofany kind had been made against Decker and
Clark that he not acquainted with or in any
way preudced against him before he began his nVest
cations The result Of his inquiries was such as to con
vince him OF the Incompetence OF the Collector and
lcef of "a
facts TO the Commissioner OF Internal Revenue. When
Decker came Washington after his removal and pro
tested against the action OF the Administration
Mr. Clark requested to 60 over Tho whole
matter again with Deckers papers before him.
70 reexamine his notes, and 70 make
another report lie did so. and the following are some
OF the points which It contains: CLARK arrived az
Rochester on the morning OF the 2Oth OF June and dis
covered that the books Of Mr. Dcckers Office had not
been posted since tho 1s Of that month but That Decker
himself was not Of this fact. When Es attention
was called to IT, ne said he thought the omission due
20 pressure OF cuisines, resulting from the collection 81
special taxes but further inquiry developed the fact
that the whole amount Of special taXca collected during
The first nineteen days of the month was only Slo30 10,
and that an the extra work required Of the clerk IN con-
nec;ion with their collection could have been done III nm
hour Again. Clarke reports that Decker did not give
his attention the public business lie asserted ha' hs
Office hours were from O:4J to p. N. On Che day
that Clark was Rochester, he reports that Decker ia
not arrive a his Office unt II o'clock and disappeared
AZ j. and Others Of whom he imputed informed MN tht
Decker was never la h.s Office an hou 10 tine, ana tuht
on The day mentioned hc had hocn there longer than ever
bef0rt Ihe following Is Special Agent tl1rhs conc acn
on this point in Lis iAu >uagc: Ito 'rrth b. that
pcckcrs personal attention 10 his oiiico was simply
fifCcaL"
Auotl,er criticism upon Ar Decler's management Of
hi. office was IN regard the distribution Of his allow
lncc Thc EIurl dcputy, " ith monthly monA r'spoh-
sbility Of $4,000, the Penny ~ deputy with ft-ion-
sbtV ~ - ODN, The Albion dcppiy with responsible
ity Of II 200 aud the Medina deputy, WIKI rcspoDsi-
ity OF only rgrl, all received tho sAinr salary 500
each and 500 iOr travelling expense such a
distribution ~ his allowance" Remarks special
Agent CLARK. either utter ignorance oi tho r.
unrencts tho service 30 hs district. or desire 20
promote the political interests az somebody. Mt Decker
cndevo.s 10 hide hind thc Departments approval OF
h 80 the distribution OF his allow
auccs forgetting that TIE Commissioner Is accustomed 10
rely upou she InteligH' honesty and capacity of the
Collector mi. matter, and docs rot dcsto 10 -uJtcJ
Inn 10 the hGmiaiing utelage which ANY Interference
would necessarily Imply.
Taxing INTO account 1 ihc-e iacts aud others reported
20 the Department Sccfct3ry-Socfray McCouDlck says
H. Thought She interest OF tlc public service aciuAndcdo
.folututut Of Collector for the Rochester DIS
tric also positively denied Al The Treasury De
plriucut that Burt Van Horn, the new Collector "a
friend President Hayes On tho other hand, tho Pfcsi-
dent did know INN 1T all. but ne vas Known 10 secfo
fairy sherman and notwithstanding Mccormick. and
was very highly recommended Tor the position OF Sr
v,yog tor the Port OF New-YOrk.