Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-08-08
ERHARDT STEPS down.
OBJECTED TO A PADROEE SYSTEM AMONG
BMpL0YES.
Secretary Foster, However, Instead on Farming
Out Oontracts-How Collector HaSss!! Will
Make the Most Of Patronage by Dividing it

tom House yesterday afternoon. 1ne
resignation followed Secretary Fosters
refusal to accept tho suggestions OF the
Collector regarding the general man
agement of the mental employees in the
Custom House and Appraisers stores.
Mr.. Erhardt refused to be party to
any scheme savoring OF contract labor.
Secretary Foster, acting on the ad-
vice of the Hepburn Commission, de-
clared that all laborers, foremen, mes
Sc ngers, elevator men, engineers and
firemen should be employed by a con-
tractor, who should pay the govern
ment a specified amount annually for
the privilege of engaging them. 1t was
a padrone system that Collector Erhardt
disapproved Of, and when Secretary
Foster did not respect his wishes In
the matter he resigned. The resig-
nation was sent to Washington June II.
Secretary Fosters proposition as made
to Colonel Erhardt is an old one. 1t was
considered when the Harrison admins
tration first took hold Of the reins, and
had, in fact, come up incidentally when
Collectors Robertson, Hedden and Ma
gone were in the Custom House. 1t was
in Mr.. Magone'e time, however, that 1t
was first brought to the attention OF the
Treasury Department. Mr.. Manning
was then Secretary OF the Treasury.
The Hepburn Commission was appoint
ed In his time.
That Commission Immediately took
up the old proposition and approved 1T,
and afterward took under consideration
a contract submitted after Colonel Err
hardt's appointment by Edward S. Mel
len, Secretary Of the Quarantine Com
mission. Mr.. Mellen agreed to furnish
a sufficient number of employees as emu
merated above for $1O7,0 year. Mel
len is a brother-in-law OF that stanch
Republican, Louis f. Payn, OF this city.
Mr.. Hepburn and Colonel Erhardt
considered the proposition. The form
er decided that the amount was too
great. He told Secretary Window that
he thought it ought to be cut down
to S97, 1000 a year. Collector Erhardt, it
has been learned, was in favor OF the
contract at first, but after elaboration
decided to withhold his ratification OF
it.
After WINDOWS death the matter was
referred to Secretary Foster. The
Hepburn Commission and Mellen's
friends took pains Immediately after
Mr.. Fosters installation TO inform him
that the expenses of running the public
stores for the preceding year had been
between S14O,0 900 and $150,000. After
investigation Mr.. Foster accepted this
statement. BY this time Colonel Err
hardt had decided to oppose any con-
tract system.
The difference between Secretary
Foster and Collector Erhardt culminat-
ed when Leader George A. Peabody, OF
the Eleventh Assembly district, got up
in the Grand Opera House hall early in
June and spoke bitterly against any
contract labor scheme as proposed by
Hepburn and approved by Secretary
Foster. Resolutions were adopted at
that meeting which condemned the Sec
rotary and upheld Mr.. Erhardt in the
matter.
These resolutions gave the anti
Erhardites a peg to hang their griev-
ances on. They declared that Erhardt
had inspired Peabody's speech, and re-
ferred the whole matter to Secretary
Foster. Mr.. Foster declared that he
was satisfied with the judgement OF the
Hepburn Commission, and was ready to
sign O. contract even if Colonel Erhardt
wasn't. That decision was followed by
the Collectors resignation.
The new Collector, j. Sloat Fassett,
4, - loorna1 ~ fhn Cnofnu1
House yesterday, in perfect accord with
Secretary Fosters conclusions in the
tangled case, as founded on the Hep
burn report. In fact, the Collector and
the Secretary are so harmonious on this
point that Mr.. Fassett will sign this
contract next week, Immediately after
his return from Elmira. Incidentally
it may be mentioned that "the Gibbs
crowd" and others who opposed the Re-
publican State and County Committees
on the Worlds Fair bill are opposed to
the signing of such contract, on the
ground that New York City Republicans
will be removed and replaced by ebay
seeds" 1t was learned yesterday that
"all good Republicans" will be retained.
The next important piece OF official
business that the Collector will attend
to will be the giving out Of the 100000
contract for the transportation Of duti-
able cases of merchandise from the
docks to the Appraisers stores. This
was another big bone Of contention be-
tween the new Secretary and the old
Collector. This contract is worth at
SOS, 900 or $50, 900 year to the one who
secured it. Thomas A. Briggs, who is
Democrat, and was appointed by Col
lector Magone in 1886, has had the con-
tract since that year, although his con-
tract expired in 1889. He has been
"hold-over" since then.
When Collector Erhardt was appoint
ed he formed plans to re-let the con-
tract, and decided to advertise and give
it to the lowest bidder. Briggs was
the lowest, and Collector Erhardt rec
commended him to Secretary Window.
Barney" Biglin, who had the contract
before Briggs, objected. He marshaled
his forces and stormed Washington.
The result of the political lombard
ment was a suspension Of Briggs ap-
polntment.
Collector Fassett will now sign this
contract, but Mr.. Briggs will not be
mentioned in it. Barney" Biglin will
come in for a slice OF the patronage. 1t
has been decided to divide this fat plum
into eight parts, and eight staunch Re-
puolicans will each get share. The
several contracts are drawn up and are
now in the hands of Duley Phelps, the
chief of the Law Division in the Custom
House. They await Collector Fassett's
signature.
1t has not taken the new Collector
long to show the palm Of his political
hand. His divisional action in this mat
ter shows that he is already beginning
to pull wire for the Fall campaign.
FINANCE AND TRADE.