Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-01-10
"eoa TIE GOOD OF THE SERVICE"

Appraiser McMnlien, at New York. Re-
moved-Pointed Correspondence.
WASHINGTON CITY, Jan. l0-Tbe presi-
dent Tuesday removed Lewis McMullen,
United States appraiser at New York city.
This action was taken at the request of Sec
rotary Fairchild, who, on the 3lst of last
December, asked for McMullen's resigna-
ton. McMullen declined to resign, and
Tuesday be was notified by the secretary of
his peremptory removal from office.
The correspondence on the matter Is inter-
esting Secretary Farchild, on Dec. 81,
wrote McMullen, saying that it was for the
public interest that the latter should cease to
be appraiser, and his resignation was there
fore requested To this McMulien replied
on Jan 2 as follows:
1t is with profound surprise that am in receipt
of your letter Of the 3lst utimo in which you state
that You consider that 1t is for the public interest
that should cease to be the United States APP
praiser at New York You do not intimate any
reasons, and am not aware of any for such n
conclusion; but on the contrary my administra-
tion OF the Office has received the warmest com
mend ton of Your honOred predecessor, should
have merited your approval and that of the
president, and have yet to learn that the con
duet of my Office has not been satisfactory to up
right importers aud the business community. If
you have any seeming foundation for your con
illusions, it would be but simple justice in view of
my official record OF thirtysis years that should
have opportunity TO be heard. Since my APP
pesrance before the Hale committee in this city
il has been repeatedly announced in the daily
press that was 10 be removed from Office; but
had not believed that such utterances were Of
Il Tally inspired In view OF the facts, and in
justice 10 myself must decline to tender my
resignation.
The secretary replies to this to the effect
that it would he useless TO give McMuilen an
opportunity to be heard, because in his
tFairchIid's) opinion the good Of the service
requires McMullen'5 retirement He says
that this opinion
Is based not upon any specific acts Of your
own, but upon my general belief that either
through ug- some other cause you can not
properly Judge Of the qualifications OF your sub
ordinates supervise their work You aiiud- To
your testimony before the committee Of which
Senator Hale WAS chairman | do not seek your
removal because You testified before that com
mittee; il was your duty 10 do so when called for
that purpose; but do recognize the force Of the
criticism which had been made, because caused
certain changes in your department Of the ser vice
in opposition To your judgment and wishes il
was bad a administration On my part To attempt
reforms in your office, which you neither thought
necessary approved. while still permitting
you To remain at the head of the offic-
This fault OF mine came about because, while
was Comment at the tltne that these changes
should be made and am now certain that my ONLY
mistake WAS in not making more believed You
to be honest and TO have the public interests al
heart, and because had grown to feel a personal
regard for you which made me too tender of your
feelings. had hoped until recently that matters
might go on fairly welt under You during the
short time that | was to be the head of this de
pariment and that ght be spared the pain of
asking for your removal; but facts have come Ia
my attention which convince me that a number
CT reforms must at once be begun in the New
York appraisers department Judging by ex
perienee can not hope for intelligent and sym
patheti: cooperation therein from you; can not
repeat the mistake Of attempting the reforms
contrary 10 your judgment while you are the r..
spnnsible head of the office and therefore ia d,
fault OF your resignation, with sincere regret
have requested that you lie removed
A. Is Stearns, United States appraiser at
Boston has been placed temporarily in
charge of the New York appraisers Office in
place of McMullen