The Evening critic., 1881-09-03


Reporter, a journal of departmental news
his respects in the last issue of his paper to
Assistant Secretary French of the Treasury
Department, in the following truthful and
spicy language;
Assistant Secretary French is an insolent
bureaucrat, with no capacity whatever for
the delicate duties OF his Office, which are
to construc the revenue. laws. Merchants
and importers whose business has brought
them in contact with him almost unani-
mously complain of the treatment they
| have received ut his hands He has even
gone so far as to pronounce that IL Is his
official duty to. construe the laws so that
| they shall conform to his own preconceivcd
notions of what they ought to be. Owing
to some of his absurd rulings hundreds of
thousands of dollars OF the capital of sugar
be released at the bidding of the courts,
which have without an exception decided
the other way. Other interests have snf-
cisions against him, he renews his rulings
in every case, and compels every importer
to resort to legal process. His removal has
interests of the country, and IL Is n blot on
Secretary Sherman's administration that
French was not dismissed.
We have observed sentiments of this kind
floating through various journals of the
country for several weeks past, and some
newspapers of great prominence, in a COM
mercial sense, in New York and Boston,
have expressed identical views in unquali-
fed terms. Now what does this mean? Is
is to be inferred there is no fire where there
is so much smoke, and have the commercial
interests of the country no standing what
ever in the great court of the Treasury De-
partment?
Is there something radically wrong in the
methods of Mr.. French If SO, a remedy
should be at once applied, because he is
' vested, whether legally or illegally, will
final authority in commercial questions in
volving millions upon millions of intcres
to the merchants of the country.
1t is claimed that he enjoys this unusua
, power more by courtesy and custom than b,
= warrant of law, and that he has been per
y mitted to assume the functions of the prop
:, orly constituted law officer Of the depart
ment There is no statute comforting NOR
than advisory powers upon the Assistan
i Secretaries of the Treasury, and they ar
If required to perform only such duties as ma
, be directed by the Secretary of the Treasur
N in consonacc with the provisions of law.
q. Certainly Assistant Secretary French cal
- not arrogate to himself powers which til
,e law does not confer even upon the Seer,
d. tary of the Treasury Secretary Windon
10 who is careful and painstaking office
1t should make inquiry into these complaint
re to the end that the commercial interests
the country should suffer no longer frol
abuses which seem to have existed so fl
n without remedy. c
n We have no patience with the methods
III certain class of officials who treat ever
st citizen, contending for his legal rights, as
lg he were a common thief. The relations b.
IN tween the Government and the citizen a.
nc mutual. Tho Government Is entitled to i
ro own, and the citizen should enjoy cvei
es right the law confers upon him. But,
ie report be true, and il seems we'll authcnt
to Gated, Assistant Secretary French tax
W special delight in discriminating again
is every person or association which may
IS unfortunate enough to come under h
e. autocratic dominion. Secretary Windo
at cannot afford to prejudice his administr
tion of Treasury affairs by continuing tn
oppression.