New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-15
A SURPRISED SECRETARY.
Mr. rAIkoaILD noLps A CONFERENCE
PRAISE FOR Ex.APPRALsER M'MuLLEN's sER-
vIcE-THE SALARY TOO SMALL FOR THE
woRK-A SECRET INVESTIGATION TO
re HELD.

Dtcretarp fdlfcnflu Degdn DuSlncSS edrfy 1cStrI>
day at the Everett House. where he stayed on
Sunday night by holding conference with sew
eral leading merchants as to the appointment Of
successor to Appraiser Lewis McMulen. who was
removed by the President last week on charges
of irregularities in the conduct Of the Appraisers
Department at Laight-st Among those repre-
sented at the conference were Z. & II. Van Ingen.
Arnold Constable & Co., w. & J. Sloane, f. ].
Denning & Co., James McCreery & Co.. A. K
Whitney & Co., and w. A Butler sugar i'm
porter Collector Magone and Acting Appraiser
A. Il. Stearns also had conference with Secretary
tairchild. One Of those present at the conference
said last night that it was the unanimous opinion
of the merchants present that the conduct of
affairs at the Appraisers Stores had never been
better than under ex-Appraiser McMuIlen.
Secretary fairchild was asked il 1t was not pos
sible that Mr. McN1ullen's dismissal could bs
reconsidered with view to his reinstatement
The Secretary said that the decision was irrevoc-
able owing to the language in which Mr.. McMuL
len had couched a letter, already made public. in
which he had said that the President had no
grounds or right to dismiss him. The Secre-
tary intimated that were it not for that
reconsideration might have been entertained
Those present then pointed out to Secretary Fair4
child the fact that they could not name any one
who would be acceptable and competent to I'LL
the vacancy at the present salary paid to the Ap-
praiser, which S4, 900 year, and they de-
clared that that salary was totally inadequate
to secure the services OF competent Appraiser
at this port where the amount of business was
so largely in excess Of such port as Boston,
where the Appraisers salary was $4,000 year.
They suggested to Mr.. Fairchild that the APP
praiser's salary be raised to $4,000 and that Of
the Assistant Appraiser to $1,000 year.
c. Iosr
mendation to the proper person in Washington,
with view to having the matter laid before
Congress. In response to Secretary Fairchild's
request that they should present the name of
some one for the position who would be accept
able to them, they told him that they could
think of no competent person who would UNDER
take the Office at the presen. salary. He told
them that he did not what party their
nominee belonged TO, as, is he were acceptable to
the merchants OF the port, he would be ap-
pointed. 1t was finally thought best to request
that Mr. Stearns be transferred from Boston to
this port, and his assistant in thao city bo
made Appraiser of the Port of Boston until
the new Administration came into power, when
of course many changes would be made IN the
department generally. Acting Appraiser A B.
Stcarns refused to say anything for publication
at the Appraisers Stores yesterday afternoon, and
OF his conference with Secretary Fairchild. Nor
would he give any information to his move
mems Mr.. Stearns was in conference with
Special Treasury Agent Montgomery yesterday
afternoon, but the latter, like the appraiser was
silent as to the subject of the investigation.
Assistant Appraiser Stgrgess WIS found IN his
offce busy performing his regular duties. He
said: want to say word about this mys-
ferrous rubber.stamp with McMuilen's signature
upon it, All this talk abaut its use after Mr..
McMullen's removal does not amount 10 anything.
rubber-stamp has been in use here for tns
cerutcation of invoices under every appraiser
since l came here in the sixties, and have
served under every one of them, McElrath,
butcher Stephen b. French, and all the others.
1t would be physical mpossibiity for the APP
praser to sign every invoice, and the custom
here has been on the retirement OF an Appraiser
for tne stamp with his name on TO be used
until his successor had new one made. IL Jus&
SO happened that COiiector Magone got hold Oh
those Two invoices Oh Suinatra tobacco, Oh wnca wncaa
SO muCn has been sald, as they We're iorwarueu
10 INN duIy stamped on the afternoon 0t dhe Gay
on wnlcn APPRAISER McAullen received his letter
OF removal from the President, ana those par
ticumr invoices attracted his attention,
buU he would doubtless una that he has received
perhaps as many 1900 invoices since
tuaU gay, all bearing the Same stamp as no new
one has been made up to the present, as lar as
| know / handed the two invoices 70 MI
McMullen, and he forwarded them to the Col
lector as Appraiser Stearns had not tnen arrived.
MIR Maeone next day asked Inc when the IN 'olces
w,rc stamped and l told him. want 70 say
that as far as the classification or valuation
nj Goods is concerned, the stamp Is valueless.
Article No 455 of the revised Treasury reguEi-
tIons says that the csrtihcatlon OF any Assistant
Appraiser is to be taken on an INVOICE. ss,s AS
far as any investigation is concerned, don't
know that any has begun so lar, ana personally
the more stringent any investigation may De-
the more l shall be satisfied with IT.
of tic damage allowances of the sugar .partment
corroborated MIR. Sturgesss account OF the rubber
stamp and said that SO far ne had not 1een
rchenor, who il is said win assist Appraiss E.
Stearns in the duties of his Office, was seen ~
the custom House. but was silent as TO "tat
Secretary Fairchild could not be seen at tle
Everett House last evening, as ne was said tS
be dining with some friends, but ne is repci1e
to have said that there would be no removals
made from the Appraisers department. uhtli
after Appraiser Stearns and Treasury Agent
Tichenor had ended such investigations as they
might deem fit TO make He further SAID tDay
Mr.. ucMulen had now, OF course, Deen oroppeu
entirely from the Government service, and that
no charges would be preferred against him, and
that none had been made. He SAID that any
investigation which might be made into the con-
duct Of the Appraisers department. would be
conducted in stIict privacy, and that nothing
would be made public until such investigation
was completed He denied that any recopi-
mendation had been made for the removal OK
any of the present staff, and said that he would
take no action OF any description until he re-
ceved q nomination from the merchants OF the
port He expected TO return to Washington last
evening.
There was considerable comment made yes
tcrday on the fact that ex-Appraiser McMuilen
WHO has been connected with the department.
for thirty-six years, and has always been =
stanch Democrat should have been retained
in office by several successive. Republican Ad-
ministrations, and should finally have been 70
nor 10
Secretary Fairchild yesterday drove out and
inspected several proposed sites for the new
Appraisers Stores to be erected In thus CITY,
IN q Iafe hour last night, where the clerk said
that he intended to leave for Washington on o
late train, but it learned from another source
that he would delay his departure until tins morn
ing for the purpose OF receiving written request
with regard TO raising the Appraisers salary rom
those who conferred with him yesterday morning; morning