The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-04-30
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The Internal Revenna Office.

The telegraphic correspondence between
the Commissioner of Internal Revenue
and Collector Craig, published in these
columns last week, was terminated by the
letter published below from tie Collector
Since then accommodation has been re-
ceiyed from the Department. Several
newspaper correspondents have stated that
the matter has been brought to the atten-
ton of the President and that Craig would
be suspended. OF this, however, nothing
is officially known. The Collectors letter
is as follows
STAUNToN, VA, April p, 1885.
Hon. Jos. S. Miller, Commissioner Iaterna1
Recenue, Washington, d. C.
SIR,-Your telegram of this morning
viz, Your resignation was asked for be-
cause it was understood here YOU were
simply awaiting such request to tender
it'-waS duly received, and to which [
replied ~ reply to your telegram of this
morning at length by letter" | now have
the honor to state that | was greatly sur
priSed on yesterday at your summary re-
quest, by acire, for my resignation. have
been Collector of this district since August
Is, 1888. the date of the consolidation of
the five diSticts Of this State into three ::
during this time [ have endeavored to con-
duct the business Of my district carefully.
honestly, fairly and impartially; | have
uniformly endeavored to be courteous to
those with whom | have done business,
and respectful to my superior officers |
was aware of no violation of any of the
above rules, certainly none was ever in
1o6 tho buSipnCC of tho nj
running smoothly and in excellent condi-
ton so far as | knew therefore very
naturally | desired knowing and requested
the cause of your telegram in the name of
the Hon. Secretary OF Treasury SO sum-
marily requesting my resignation, and also
by what authority it was so requested. [
was not aware that it was within the
province of the Hon. Secretary of Treas
ury to make such demand my opinion
was that as / had been appointed and COM
missioned by the President of the United
States by him only could l be relieved.
al am gratiied to learn by your message
of this morning, above quoted. that it was
not prompted by reason of any charges
against my administration of the Office ::
but merely on representation to you that
| desired to resign
| expect, sir, with all due respect, that
you will find, as i'll this case, that the rep
reservations Of our Virginia office-seekers
and their friends cannot always be sufii-
GENTLY relied upon to base action, without
further enquiry by communicating with
me YOU could have ascertained my posi-
ton, which is this | ain a Republican,
and expect so to remain since the inaug-
uration of President Cleveland | am aware
that the Bourbon-Democracy of this State
has ,detaanded the removal of Republican
officials have always said to my Demo
cratic friends. as | now say to you, that
whenever our Republican officials were re-
moved for political and partizGe causes,
then desired my name to be among the
list that not a murmur would escape my
lips, but that should be content in going
down with my party, and extend to my
successor all proper courtesies and infor-
nation.
But this same Democracy also makes the
general charge of dishonesty and corrup-
tion against all of our Virginia officials.
Of course know this charge will be found
as baseless as it is false but then it be-
hOoves us officials to be very jealous in this
regard and, sir, although | know every
thing to be square in my district, yet had
| on yesterday telegrapbed you my resig
nation. In obedience to your summons. |
believe there would have been those who
would have imputed dishonorable motives
to my action. claiming that such hot haste
would not have been demanded or obeyed
unless something had been wrong.
Hence, you see, that | was placed in a
position that to have obeyedyour telegram
would have reflected upon my administra-
ton.
Having thus submitted my case, | am,
sir. very respectfully, your obedient SER
want. W. e. CRAIG.
Collector
Since the above was in type, we learn
from yerterday's papers that the Presi-
dent has suspended Collector Craig and
appointed Ham. Sheppard. Up to yes
terday evening no notification of the
change had reached The Stanton office.
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH We
understand that the Elders Of this Church
have provided for regular services each
Sabbath until pastor is called On next
Sunday morning Elder Jed !IotchkiSs vii
deliver a lecture on the sSoldiers of the
Bible.n
County merchants would do we'll to read
the advertisement of II. st. G.. Tucker.