The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-14
SECHETARY FOSTER'S REPLY,
He Defends the Ellis leland Expenditures
and the Use OF the Mead Money.

He Defends the Ellis leland Expenditures
and the Use OF the Head Money.
WASHINGTON. May 13-The following letter
from Secretary Foster in reply to tho joint lot
ter Of Senator Chandler and Representative
Stump on immigration matters was given out
this afternoon.
DEAR S,Rs: 1havo received and read your commun
cation Of April 80. relating manly to the opinion of
tho Attorre y.General in which he affirm. the legal
authority OF tho Treasury Department to portion
OF the head money for the construction and equipment
OF INN landing station Ellis Island While
both the substance and spirit Of your letter are oc-
cason for profound surprise. reasonable regard for
those prophecies which usually characterize CORE.
spondence on public questions between officials repre-
senting different branches of the Government will pro-
tect me against any tempt alton to adopt similar toe
and thereby to double the occasion for meat
and regret
Your letter appears to express disapprova OF an Of
fetal act OF thai officer in giving to his
OF statute that called upon to administer; and
yet do not IN to disagree with the Cen
era IN his conclusions us gather from the seAtencs
" THIS committee have never expressed the opinion
that the nditures fro the head money abso-
lutcly Illegal" Doubtless tho Attorney.General would
have been grathed II your expression approval had
been more definite, and you had lit use some
other word qualifying Illegal than tina, used by YOU
Upon reelection. perhaps. you will conclude that the
phrase absolutely Illegal is somewhat nebulous 1t
conFeysto the nina OF the ordinary reader the
Kod sss int he FeSsyes .n n reading
nymes for absolutelv' then doubtless the Attorney
General will lie pleased to know that YOU agree Win
him. far to say that the expenditures referred to
we only a little Illegal" and IN. worst only
Uncertainty illegal" This will he doubtless rs graft.
terpretntion Of statutes that YOU favor Inc with.
namely that the meaning Of statute is to be ascer.
famed ny facts many OF them occurring after its
enactment; With reference TO the inquiry AS 10
whether communicated tn the Attorne raj the
.nnr 5 ..y f I'D no, by the
Referring your desire to have tho whole erie. Of
the request that he will state whether or not they
OF PERSONAL curiosity with which have no concern
whatever. Doubtless the Attorne y-(ienera viii make
appropriate reply without the socita.
You further say: I'VE also desire his opinion and
your own mime not only as to the technical Inc aiming
q tho clause in the act Of March D. ls.l but" &c
give yon such opinion. am not a lawyer and hence
II would seem to be indelicats for int rude my
referred to.
You ask my opinion. .aso in larger sense whether
me actions Of the Treasury peparmen from first to
wer. inauEurnted prior TO becoming Secretary IL
tho Treasury: that all that has been since has
been done under the INN sdinte OF the yl.
OF the Treasury Depart Assistant Secretary Nett
ton" am not familiar with all the details OF
connection with the adm stration OF the ln nixra
tion business and procuring faci ties for doing
business. and ! cannot state whether from mrs, 10
last each and every detail would have approved
by me. but can state as you we'll know. that In a
larger sense" am. as Secretary OF the Treasury
responsible for what has been done; that in the
main / believe it to have been well ami wisely dom.
and that this work will n as an evidence OF the
wisdom and humanity "i this Government long after
the criticism that has assaen 1t has passed FROM tho
cuARLEs FOSTER. Secretary.