Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-27
WHY HE WAS REMOVED.
Auditor Tichenor Tells the Story I'm Wig
orOus Words.
A POLITICAL JOB OF COMMISSIONER wHEATLEY's-
COMMISSIONERS WEBS PrrrFuL wARBLE--rHE
EXCUSE SENT TO CONGRESS "a coxrExPrIBLE,
cowARpLY BLOW"

kACCSE oEsf AZ SOcoAEsc n
cowARDLY BLOW"
In the report to the Senate made by the Dis
trict Commissioners on the 18th inst relative
to certain removals and changes in the per-
sonnet Of the force of officers and clerks con-
shutting the District government during Pc
riod covering the services of the present Com
missioners, appears the following regarding
the removal in April last Of Col /. 8. Tichenor
from the Office of auditor:
,,.I 9 Tiehenor was removed from the Office of
Snent confusion IN accounts between that Office and
A STAR reporter this morning called upon
Col. Tichenor, at the United service club, in
order to get his views of the Commissioners
action, both as TO his removal and the subse-
quent reflection on his administration, which
was made by them In their report under the
Chandler resolution.
In answer to question as to what the off,
cial action of the Commissioners at the time
OF his removal indicated as the cause of the
change Col Tichenor produced the following
original official order:
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS
wasaTseTos, April IS s isss
SIk: The COMMISSIONERS direct me to furnish you
tine s9lowing oea COPY Of their order Of this date
Iichenor il hereby removed from the office Of auditor
and After the oth inst ana that Petty Is ann
pointed to said Office to take effect and the LIST
further directed TO state ha. this action is not
oe intey but Is os of adj
administrative expedieney" Very EesPecttully.
What did you understand" inquired the
STAR man, ''by administrative expediencv,'
when the Commissioners stated that their
action was not based on any consideration
touching your personal or official integrity?'
why, that is plain enough" said Col. Tiche-
nor; lit simply meant that it was expedient
that the Office OF auditor of the District of CO.
lumbia should be administered by democrat
instead Of a republican, and that, believe,
was the Interpretation generally given it by the
press and the public"
''what was the first intimation Won had from
the Commissioners that they contemplated
making change in your office?'
1.-THE official order 1 have shown you re-
voking my appointment, but" added the colo
mel, "a short time, perhaps few weeks, before
the order for my removal was promulgated, it
was stated in the National Republican that the
Commissioners contemplated making a change
in the Office OF auditor. well as that of collec-
tor, and, having been advised by friends that
strong democratic influences were being
brought to bear upon the Commissioners to
cause them to remove both the collector and
myself and fill our places with democrats, /
immediately called upon the president of the
board, Mr. Webb, and, showing him the article
asked for an explanation. Mr.. Webb replied
promptly that there was
NOT ONE WORD OF TRUTH
in the statement that the Commissioners had
never discussed the matter, and that the whole
story was manufactured out of whole cloth
and then. with evident feeling, asked what he
had ever done to Fox to prompt him to publish
such a statement.
He then said, Pay no attention to this
and as was about leaving the room he stopped
me and volunteered the remark that if in the
future any change was contemplated. which
was not anticipated, he would at once advise
me-"
What did You understand was meant by this
why, that should have the opportunity of
Have you any objections to stating what
Your purpose was in calling Mr.. Webb's atten-
ton to this notice?'
Certainly not Ny friends were well aware
Of the fact that the Office had become exceed
Ingly distasteful to me; that my health was
much impaired from overwork, annoyances
and anxiety. and that desired to resign One
of the Commissioners had manifested such
evident unfriendliness to me and the systems 1
had inaugurated as to render my efforts in a
measure useless. / had, however. allowed nv
self to be overpersuaded to submit to the an
noyances. and hold the fort as il were and
this by many of the best citizens of all par
ties"
Was it Mr.. Webb to whom you refer?"
No; it was Commissioner Wheatiev"
How was this unfriendliness manifested?r
We'll, by an evident determination to break
me down by indirection. that is, by first break
ing down my systems, you see. knew from
the best sources that Mr.. Wheatley was deter
mined Of not absolutely pledged) to remove
me,
As WELL AS OTHER REPUBLICAN
officials. from Office, and fill our places with
democrats, and his subsequent acts justified
that statement"
In what way. may ask?'
wen, when was appointed auditor Gin De-
cember, 1882 began to look into the methods
of conducting the business of the Office. which
IN some respects were not satisfactory to me-
and devised plan.which / believed would be
an Improvement, and furnish better checks in
keeping the accounts SO far as they related to
the collectors office, besides furnishing greater
protection to taxpayers. This was submitted
TO the board OF Commissioners. Edmonds West
and Lydecker, and after thorough examine
ton by them, was adopted by an official order
winch directed that IT go into operation Off /
remember correctly November l. 1888 Early
in the spring of 1884 partial investigation Of
District affairs was entered into by Congress
under what was known as the Fielder resolu-
ton. and was conducted with the aid of one of
the best known expert accountants in New York
city. The result of that investigation is well
known. The expert. Mr.. Yolden with whom
had no acquaintance in his report and in
several interviews published at the time COM
mended the system. But you can see for your
self what he did say, and what the report of
the committee was to Congress. Here they are
The expert said, Il commend the system of
Auditor Tichenors, lately inaugurated
IT Is THE MOST PERFECT SYSTEM
] have ever SEEN"
THE report made by Mr. Wilson. of the Honse
District committee contains the following
language.
That the methods of bookkeeping i'm the fnancia,
epertments OF the District of Columbia Introduced
b the present auditor the first day OF Noyerober
If the committee and Of expert accountanfs ronsuit
~ them VIII insure correctness accounts OF
those Entrusted with the collection and disbursement
q pubic moneys, and their ready accountability
therefor.
Now" continued ex-Auditor Tichenor, s:Nr.
Wheatley seriously interfered with the carving
out OF the systems, and substantially broke
them up. have been told. however that the
Commissioners have retained the coupon por-
tion. mere fragment, but do not know GER
tainly."
'wha. objection did Mr.. whea,ley make to
the plan?'
We'll, he said there were too many books.
that was one thing. but do not care to 60 into
THIS matter now, as / do not wish to enter into
a defense OF methods already approved by such
high authority"
Then 1t would seem. colonel that the fexer
books he had the better?"
1t certainly looks that wav. and the only
thing can say at this time is that il the sys
tenn was not fully carried out I'D to the time of
my removal n was on account of Mr. Wheat
ley's industrious efforts to break il down. which
III