St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-08-21
BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
The Investigation Into the Official
Acts Of INSPECTOR Sloane.

Acts of Inspector Sloane.
Notwithstanding the statement made
by Solicitor Hart. of the treasury de-
partment, that he did not know when
he would begin the investigation of
John D. Sloane, supervising inspector
of steam vessels. that official began the
service due his chief yesterday. All
dav long Mr.. Hart, Mr.. Sloane. the
stenOgrapher employed in the
United States district attorneys
Office and an occasional witness were
cOseted in the private room of the dis
trict attorney, whilst the click OF a
typewriter indicated that Mr.. Hart is
not losing any time in performing the
services expected of him. TO every IN
quiry as to his course of procedure or
the witnesses to be examined Mr.. Hart
shook his head and replied that he had
information to impart, and it is the
policy of the present administration,
when the head of subordinate officer
is wanted, to go at it as quietly as pos
sible. In case an official is not house
warmer, or will not use his Office for the
purpose of promoting the political OBJ
iects of the administration by making
political appointments, irrespective of
the merits or qualifications, in bust
ness sense, of the applicant, then he is
considered as being opposed to pTOmOt-
ing the cause of the Republican party,
and his head is demanded. In this case
Mr.. Sloane found that he could not con-
| scientiouSly license boat upon Yellow
stone lake belonging to Capt. Walters,
! chum of Russell Harrison and proml-
nent political striker. He accordingly
! stated the reasons that satisfied him
! that the boat was not in seawOrthy
| condition when demanded by the Wash
! iDgtOn authorities to license the boat,
| and modestly asked if he should issue
! the license Notwithstanding the defects.
! Walters, knowing that his boat could
not pass business like inspection and
| being impatient at the fact that the
! license would not be given him, on the
grounds of his influence applied di-
! rectIy to Russell Harrison and de-
manGed the head of Mr.. Sloane. He
| doubtless thought that the Inspector
would be decapitated without any fur
Their question, and such course
would probably have been taken had
| not Gen. Nettleton taken a hand
in the matter and, when charges were
| preferred by Gen. Dumont, the latter
was directed to return from his vacation
| and subStantiate the charges.
The general opinion is that upon a
conscientious examination and honest
decision, Mr.. Sloane will be honorably
acquitted of any charges against him.
Political inquiries as conducted by
the present administration" remarked
a prominent federal official, ''are not
based upon legal principles, neither is
exact justice always done. If Mr.. Sloane
were to be tried in court of justice he
would come off triumphant. But there
| is no telling what may be the result of
a partisan inquiry where failure to
toady to political associate of Russell
Harrison is the chief rule of action.
Even if this investigation should ex-
| onerate Mr.. Sloane, he may still be
turned down. The investigation is secret
and the department may do as it
pleases even to discharge the inspector
| in face OF the examination. The public
or the friends of Mr.. Sloane will be
powerleSs to secure redress, because
there is no appeal from the will of the
department. The testimony will be the
private property of the department, and