New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-03-21
JUDGE FoLGERs ADMINISTRATION

COMMENT EXCITED BY HIS ABSENCE FROM WASH
INGToN-Ms UNPoPULARITY WITH HIS sUDoa-
DINATEs.
lBY TELEGRAPH TRIBUsE.I
WASHINGTON, March 20.-The simple fact that
Secretary Foger, who has been really i'll for sew
eral weeks has followed his physicians advice and
gone away for O short time to find needful rest and
relaxation has excited an amount of comment
wholly dspropOrtioned 10 the Importance of the iu-
cident. To iGuge by the tone taken by some of
the subordinate officers vf the Treasury Depart
ment, one would say that the Secretary had been
guilty of u grave indiscreton, if nothing worse,
by presuming to leave the capital without con-
sdltation with them, 10 arrange his itinerary and
fix the duration OF his absence. When one Of
these gentlemen was asked question to-day about
the matter he put on an injured air and replied
" can tell you nothing; the Secretary moves in a
mysterious way" He did not finish the quotation.
In response to the same inquiry, another nigh
Treasury official snappshly said: IL don't know
where he has gone nor when he will return" II
he had added and l don't care" the inquirer
would not have been surprised
The truth is that very strong feeling of disahec
tion toward Secretary FoIGer prevails among his
subordnates, some of whom, high in authority, are
restrained IRON expressions OF open disrespect and
hostility only by prudent regard tor their official
heads The Secre,ary's abilities as financler and
statesman are held In great contempt BY some OF
the Ncckers who preside over divisions or bureaus
in his depai tment. Most Of the disafection, how
ever, springs from a different source from what
might be called Secretary Folger's nquisitiyeness
and his close scrutiny Of the details of admiuistra-
tion. II he would sign papers without reading
understanding them and would approve vouchers
without asking questions everything would 60 on
nuh puf af 10 ha nunhf fnf
Secretary of the Treasuryv no refused to approve
voucher for 500 account of travelling expenses
presented by of his assistant secretaries until
that officer had written upon tho face of the paper
O certificate to the effect that the journey made
on necessary public business In this case it had
been asserted that the journey was made la oider
that the official might attend the funei al Of distn
guished philosopher.
Since Judge Foger took his place ut the head of
The Treasury Department IL is not easy as it
formerly for a subordinate officer whenever he de-
sires llttle trip for pleasure attend TO his
private affairs TO collect his travelling expenses for
the Journey from the Government on some shsdowy
pretext that "public business required it to be
made. The refusal Of Secretary Folger to approve
such accounts has much TO do with his unpopular
ity In the Department. He has also ruflled tho
dignity of more than one bureau chief by comments
on DIS law Ut us prtctICc utClsous Uotu
of which In cases have been overruled. He is,
of course judicial in his methods does not
rapidly enough to SUIT some of the brilliant heads
of bureaus and divisions, who frequently declare
that be is "a slow coach" There is no doubt th ,t
Secretary folger has felt from the day he took
Office tn ut he had reason to suspect the official del
ity of some OF his subOrdnates and the judgment of
Others and this has made hun exit emely cautious
and deliberate. IL has also imposed uuon him tho
labor of exercising a closer scrutiny in regard to
matters of detail than would have been necessary
otherwise. 1t is scarcely to be wondered that Sec-
retary Folger's health has broken down under tho
strain and that he requires rest nor Is it very sur
prising that some of his subordnates are quick to
take ad tage OF the circumstance to indulge in
unpleasant comments and innuendoes.