New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-09
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
INSISTING THAT HE BE GIVEN PLACE.
THE SINGULAR LETTER WRITTEN BY THE sEcRH-
TARY TO APPRAISER HOWARD.

lNolSIlNt THAT HE BE GIVEN A PLACE.
THE SINGULAR LETTER WRITTEN BY THE sEoRH-
| TARY TO APPRAISER HOWARD.
Secretary Folger having stated to tho Washington
correspondent OF The TRIBUNE that be he'd not
| asked for appointment In the Custom House for
twelve years' TRIBUNE reporter yesterday called
at the office Of Appraiser Howard to learn the facts
In regard to the appointment of DR.. Gregg, who,
the Appraiser had charged was appointed at the
special request of the Secretary given IN such lan-
guage as TO amount almost TO command The
records in the Appraisers office were exhibited to
show that the appointment of J. Franklin Davis
referred TO by the Appointment Clerk Of the Treas
ury Department was in no way connected with that
of Dr. Gregg According TO these records Mr. Davis
passed the Civil Service examination foe
a sampler, at o salary of $1,000 q year. on
March %. 1880. his record standing so, or 10
above the minimum on which appointments are
allowed TO be made. He was afterward appointed
a sampler and while temporarily out of office last
year he entered with DR.. Gregg the examination
held in October for q higher grade of service, that
of examiner the lowest salary for which is 1880
year. Although Mr.. DaYis's average was six de-
grees higher than that Of Dr. Gregg, both fell be-
low the minimum of rs and therefore neither one
could be appointed under the law or be eligible for
another examination for the Office for ono
year. Neither one was appointed and the extra
place Of examiner drst created for DIR. Gregg still
remains vacant But Mr.. Davis was reappointed 10
the lower place of sampler which he had previously
| occupied and for which he passed the examination
| nearly three years ago. The records show
| that the Appraisers attention first called 10
| Dr. Gregg by the chairman Of the Republican Gen.
| trail Committee, John j. O'Brien. in March, 1882.
| Mr. OBrien said that Secretary Folger would like
| to have DR.. Gregg Of Elmira, who was "close to
| the Secretary" appointed an examiner. There was
no vacancy at that time In that branch OF the SER
| vice. and under the law the Appraiser 10
forbidden to increase the expenditures of his Office
without first obtaining the consent Of the Secretary
of the Treasury, to whom it must be certified that
the extra expense is necessary 1t did not ap-
pear to the Appraiser that the extra expense was
and ne waited iUr ap 70 tpsnd in
| the service of the Government.
| About this time the attempted suicide OF Miss
HATTIE ii R w0 on be %est side BROUGHT 10
| light the fact that n. d. sampson, married man
and confidential clerk in the Appraisers Office was
miraculous escape Of Miss Hull. the particulars of
which were published In IHE TRIBUNE at the time.
she gave the Appraiser numerous letters written to
| her by Sampson and signed by hun in which he con-
| fessed having committed several grave offences
against the Government: he particulars OF these
| have also been published. The Appraiser sent these
letters accompanied by afdavits to Secretary Fol-
ger and recommended that Sampson 6e az once dis,
charged from the service: lie stared In MS ofhciai
letter now file in the letter book in the Appraisers
| office, that Miss Hull only loaned the Departments
the letters, it being agreed that they we're to be
returned TO her, she intended to proceed legally
| against Sampson some Of his letters being of
| threatening character. It appear that Barney
! Biglin and Others lnterceded at the Treasury DE,
Of the Appraiser getting At once ths
necessary consent for the discharge Ok
| Sampson. nothing was heard for several days IN
| vacancy or lessenIug Of expenditures In some way
! IN order make up the amount necessary Tor the
| salary of an extra examiner. The discharge OK
| Sam1son, which was daily expected would have
| brought about that result
| Up to this time. according to the Apprals.
| had passed either officially or unoficially
with the Secretary Of the Treasury Depart ent IN
regard to the employment OF Dr. Gregg, OF EiRira,
| Mr.. O'Brien that Secretary Folger wanted Dr.
Gregg appointed an examiner. The Appraiser was
rather surprised, therefore, by the receipt
| of the following letter written and signed oy
Secretary Folger, and dated only eleven days alter
the Appraiser had first heard OF pr Gregg 1880
z SHN DO not fathom all this dealing viva Dr.
Greg Of Imira suggest him for Examiner Of Drugs
II is competent and answers all the requirements OF
"a nave the fee II he does not square with these pro-
requisites let him and me know II, and ne VIII stay In
Elmira II seems that there mas not been frank
ness with him and Why should his appointment do
| pend upon the removal of sampsont IL does not IL
shall not You are not as Wise as serpent "hen YOU
propose suen "a thing TO me
III you see It, lee know inst how the matter OF Dr.
Gregg stands. Yours tiuiy, etc., CHARLES j. FOLDER
The letter he OF tho Appraiser shows no reference
in any spondence up TO the time OF the receipt
of this letter TO the subject OF Dr. Gregg, and tno
Appraiser says that such proposal or suggestton
| a. that mentioned by the secretary was ever made
| INIT DR. Gregg had probably been told mat no
| would be appointed as soon as there was vacancy,
fhe SAMPSON matter being referred 10 In connection
| with the subject The result was that the APP
praiser following the suggestion of the Secretary
| nominated DR.. Gregg as an extra examiner, az
90 500 a year, and this nomination was confirmed.
I'm the r. guar course all examiners have TO enter
at 81 500 year. and DIR. Gregg ia being put In the
| service at 81 800, the highest salary In that
| grade went over the heads OF men who had been
| Examiners for ten years In explanation or TINS
departure from ne usual way of making appoint
| meuts II was said yesterday at the Appraiser once
thtt II WAS due TO lntlmatl0ns from friends OF ME-
| Foger that ne wanted II done, and because IL was
not Thought best judging from the tone or his let
| ter further TO disreg ard these limitations.
| Several weeks later the Secretary gave MS con-
sent to the discharge of SAMPSON but according 10
| fine Appraisers records the most 1mportant
| letter of those written 10 Miss HUI oy sampson,
| and forwarded TO the Treasury DE.
| partmept has not yet been returned. Az
| Inc exuration of DR.. Greggs hrst SIX
| months lt was necessary Tor MN To undergo CNu
Service examination IN order 10 continue In ohiee.
| i'm TINS examination he failed. and the Appraiser
| had no alternative except to remove him III accord
| ance with tie law. On December -, however,
| Secretary Foger again wrote on behalf OF Dr.
Gregg s s9sSSsh be- fsd according to Tho
Civil Service rules which In this case would seIec9
| Dr. Gregg" Thls request Appraiser Howard refused
to connolly with, as he stated that IL would be In
dreot Violation of the Owl Service regulatonsJ
aud two or three days later Mr. ketcnum was NOM
| mated as his successor