The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-07-01
COMMISSIONER MASON
Talks About the Alleged Kick
Of Ex-CoIIector McGraw. =
A VERY EASY EXPLANATION
orthc Maurr-IIe Don't Believe Nc
Graw Made Statements Attributed
toIiim-Thc Collector was
Very Courteous and Kind.
s,.eioi D.oa,cA tone mnlliga,og,

sinner John W. Mason to the Grafton
letter in Thursdays Register in which
Colcctor MrGmw is represented to have
expressed dissatisfaction with the order
directing the removal Of his office to
parkosburg prior to transfer to the in
coming Collector, and the Commissioner
was asked to furnish an explanation OF
the matter -- -
"Wly,g said he, mo explanation Is
necessary, Rs it seems TO me, cannot
Lelieyu that Mr., McGraw authorized the
publIcalon Of this item, since he knows
Il is misrepresentation OF the iaCts.
YJu may say, however, that the order
for thp removal Of the office to Parkers-
Lpr, by Collector MCGmw was made
lilrr il was asrertainGd from him that 1t
you'd br entirely agreeable 10 him, !
shall 90 farther aud say that when 1t be-
rnue generally understood that Mr.,
White would be appointed as his sue
cessor-at least two months before the
order Tor removal was issued-Atr, Nc.
Gnw Voluntarily offered to transfer the
Office to larkersburg-as he said, 10 aC-
comnodate Mr., White, and the prolIer
Of his abundant good will was accepted
in Tie same spirit in which 1t was ten
drred,'
"Why should Mr., MCGraw attempt to
show to the people OF the State that he
is being arbitrarily dealt with"
"Ah there, ! beg To repeat: | do
NOT lhnk Mr.. McGnw could have au'
thorllcd the publication to which you
have called my attention, He would
not wiImlly nisreprcsent me-"
EASILY EXPLAINED.
"But Mr.. McGraw seems to complain
that you sent him an order by wire
which Has displeaSing to him. What
have YOU to say ms to that?"
"Tic explanation" replied the Com
missioner, "is very simple. AS before
statrd,it was perfectly understood be-
tween Mr.. MCGraw and myself that the
office should bo moved by him when
lis successor wOs appointed. Mr.. White
Was appointed June q, and on the 10th
oi June | issued the necessary official
order Tor the removal to take place on or
before the 18th Of June. A few days al.
ter making the order II was ascertalned
that there was not the necessary iutnl'
ture, desks, &C., ut Parkersburg, and II
WIS feared that the order would have to
be suspended. On Saturday, the 22d Of
June, Mr.. MCGraw came here, and re-
mained until Monday, the oath, expect
ing to see Collector White. But C0lleC.
tor White did not get here until Mr..
McGraw had gone home. 1t was agreed
between Mr.. McGrAw and myself that II
/ should find that the office could be &C.
cOmmodated at Parkersburg should
wire him the next day; otherwise he
should not move.
ME-Whitu came here the next day,
June % ,the day the Office was TO be
moved, and said he lad made arrange
mcnts ior furniture, and in accordance
with my arrangement with Mr.. MCGraw
j wired him:
white says Office ready at Parkers-
burg. Proceed with removal to.day.h
Someone in Mr.. MCGraw's office,
doubtICss without knowing these facts,
published the telegram in such manner
us to place me in u false light. Had l
consulted my own wishes and my per.
sOnal interests, should have left the
office Vt Grafton. But you know Grafton
has no Government building and the
Revenue Bureau hns been compelled to
pay rent, 1t is not right that the Gov.
trnmrnt should pay rent when 1t owns
so many good buildings in the State.
ALWAYS nEES THE POLICY.
"hnd then it has always been the pol.
icy Of the Government to allow the Col.
lcctor to take the office to his home.
There were formerly three collection
districts in West Virginia. DR.. Bough.
ner was the first collector in the Second
district. lie kept the office at home in
MorgantOwn. lie was superseded by
Col. !. Il. COiran, who removed the oil.
flee to his home Mt Grafton. Gen. Geo.
W. Brown, the successor OF Mr.. Cofran,
moved the office for awhile to his home
in kiNgwOOd, and then moved TO Graf.
ton, where he lived and kept the office
until lie was succeeded by Gov. Pier.
pOnt, who moved ii to his home in Fair.
mont, where II was kept until the office
was consolidated with the First district,
aud il was removed by Gen. Duval 10
Wheeling. When Mr.. Mccormick sue.
ceeded Cen. Duval, he brought the Office
back to Grafton where lie lived. Mr..
MCGraw, the successor OF Mr.. NICCor.
mick, has kept II at hishome since. The
samc policy was pursued In the Third
district until 1t was consolidated with
the First district. Wheeling was always
the headQuartersio iorthe First. ltseemed
to suit all the collectors. So, you will
see that il for no other reason than the
fact that Mr. White lives at Parkersburg,
he wOGld seem to he entitled by a long
AMI unbrokcn line Of prCCedents 10 havo
the Office kept at his liomo."
The Commissioner declined 10 discuss
the matter further, but u was otherwise
and Afterwards ascertAined that while In
this city recently, McGraw's attention
was called to the lNrELLIGRSCRR inter.
view of several days ago, and he indlg.
nantIy resented tho charge that he had
Hyer been interviewed, asserting that
the lNtELLlGESCER representative had
gotten hislniOrmation from one oithe Col.
!rcIots wicked deputies, and that the
interview did moi reflect his sentiments
a. MI, 1t was also learned that on the
2oth inst an official letter was received
IRON thc Collector blythe Commissioner,
Stnllng tlAt certain Information by Che
washington olllCe was not obtalnable,
lhISmurh Us the records were then boxed
ready llt shipment, This Wonld indi.
cate That everything was ready ioF abb.
i mghl before the receipt Of tho Telegram
hot from the wires"
MoHAw nNp VuS WITH TIE yoYs,
The truth is when West vlrglnlanB
Sel together, us they do sometimes, and
compare notes, they have no trouble
whatever in locating good many incon.
hslehrles ut the Collectors door. Fol
example, he told ono candidate for Col
leclor That being rdg desirous Of his sue
cess lie would at any time place hid
McGmw'sl resignation In his hands L
10 Win rs would best advance his lnle.
rests, To irruds Of another candidate
no also made earnest pfOteslations o.
eternal fidelity, and (old him II Il
would he Of service 10 him, he would
MilllhRly..nay, chceriully, remove thI
omGe TO Wheeling inIidnitr. 10 accom-
molo'c tho incoming Collector he agrOCl
o remove to parkcnbufg and take hiu
uHuer special instruction for "a Coppl