The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-22
THE ELLIS ISLAND SCANDAL.
GEN. NETTLEroN BATTLES THE IN
yrs11sh1ORs FOR THE TINE BEING.


vrs11ahTO TORS FOR THE TINE BEING.
~. Proved Foxy ana weil-eosched Wit
go. and Refused to Answer Except by
IN. Record-The Use OF the "Head
Money" TO Pay for improvements 70 the
.uo,n, or $500. 900 Over tho Estimates,
ne said, Was Authorized by Congress.
w,s,,yc1oy. March 21.-The Joint Com
ritec on immigration investigating the
nsnnremcnt OF affairs at Ellis Island were in
session today. endeavoring to ascertain how
u harpens that the expenditures since the
aoo,h Of Secretary Window have exceeded the
.mount conten plated by law to the tune OF
sa,p 600 They did not succeed. although for
sn.oral hours the committee questioned the
Ian who knows. and could have told
iii about II. This was tho Assistant Sec
rotorv OF the Treasury. Gen. A. d. Nettleton.
nan Nc,,eton was very foxy" He was an
oxtrem,y wary unsympathetic. slippery. and
-.,,l.co,rhcd witness. Ho has apparently
somnle,,ly palled his pursuers for the time
h.,r, Tho rursuers seemed conscious OF
hang on lot trail. and yet they failed to
.at,i, an with tho game. Tho leaders. Repre-
.entutive stump OF Maryland as Chairman
NJ ,ho Horse Committee and Senator Chandler
NJ the Senate Committee. failed to act to-
Gather effectively. After a preliminary flour
i'm Mr.. chandler became silent. and didn't
oyon come to Mr.. stump's rescue when
,,s latter allowed himself to be thrown
An the track repeatedly by Gen. Net
t,eton's guarded replies and his refusals to
answer. Mr.. stump managed to retreat In
order. and will return to the chase tomorrow
with renewed determination. But 1t was to be
,.crc,ted that vigorous, rigid. lawyer-like eN-
animation was not to DO had. At the very out
.ot Mr.. Nc.tleton threw down the gauntlet by
Announcing frigidly to 1.-The gentlemen con-
dur.inr this investigation" who sat within
arms reach. the conditions on which he con-
sentel to be examined. He said:
II desire to state that I shall object to sit
fling Eerc Tor the purpose Of having my recol-
lection tested or the fountains OF memory
sounded. am not here for the fun OF 1t. and
must assume that you are not. shall answer
only by the records
To this decision Gen. fettleton adhered. so
that when an opinion was desired by Mr.
Stump on question OF fact as to the progress
or need of the work on Ellis Island. 1t was not
obtained. Senator Chandler tried to reason
with Gen. Nettleton that there was no DISPOSE
tion to take any advantage Of him. but the
Secretary was obdurate. whereupon the Sena-
tor lost patience and exclaimed with great
warmth;
81 don't propose to go on with this examina-
ton under any limitation or condition inter-
posed by YOURSELF Are you ready to go on?"
LAM" replied Secretary Nettleton.
During tho questioning the witness was
constantly on the alert. consulting Chief Clerk
Daprav OF the Supervising Architects office:
who sat at his elbow and referring most OF
the questions to the records. some OF which he
had with him. Senator Chandler said tonight
to The Sun reporters:
- am not prepared to 60 into a discussion
that they have been dishonest expenditures.
but am ready to say that wise administra-
far in excess Of the S250.OOO guaranteed as
the limit by Secretary Window. beyond even
the bsaa pa use OF 9tSn
that think that If Mr.. ,Nettlctons memory
does not serve him as to the testimony OF Sec
les On the day before his death. he Mr. Settie-
toni may at least be held responsible for know
inE Of WINDOWS letter. which is on file in tho
At one point only did Mr.. Nettleton relax
from his guarded manner That was when
need 81 telephone service on the Island;
II had nothing more to defend than the
Suyng Of this cable shoad be oRe OF the
n!iicant smile.
Mr.; stump asked il the figures for the heat.
nary Sir. Nettleton replied that they might, at
glance, but not when the matter was exam
ined and the extent Of the work ascertained.
received at night; Mr.. Nettleten replied that
sdered tho plant essential and necessary for
properly conducting the business OF the
Mr., STUMP said that he saw an item Of
$3.50 for steamer service for three MONTHS"
sI asSnd foT an exp!anatISn q IT. Mr. Nettle,
run steamers and, transported laborers and
other empoyees. but this had been stopped.
md the Government was forced to supply a
Mr. stump-Would 1t not be cheaper to pur-
Mi; NcttlstonNi think not: ! do not think
tho Government should establish ferry. fit
did one boat would not be sufficient. as others
ccen TRe ms
only temporary.
Mr.. stump then began questioning witness
CONCERNING the telcEruphic communtcai ions,
sG,yernmcnt had purchased to connect the
Mr." ttl ,@" %efr,s" Western Union had nm
od and inferior cable which served tho pur-
H. hS Ssn nHT anaG
ter, rrrommcndca tho purchase Of the cable.
a wn,. n,rHl investigation. | concluded TINT It
IN, recommendation was approved and the
, Mr. I,,gn,r-IIow often does the fcrryboat
Mr. A"tt"ton-Its trips depend on tho will of
,he lvMni~eloner. but rs rule they arc reg
p u,af nn' leluiro about half an hour for
Mr.. stgmn-Di not this furnish sufficient
s",lmnniration Can you otto u ease Of cmor-
smnry Where the steamer did not III tho bill?
Mr. Nc'trion-Not ut present Tn. steamer
ms mas opnn interrupted several times during the
W.t SIX months on account Of fog.
Nm answer to questions by Chairman stump.
Mr ,Setlc'on said that thole were in the
nn,alEghborhood OF 20 employees Oh tho pay roll
fil" Island. Treasurer G. g. Manning had
rra11tsn Of til" pay roll. which amounted IN tho
mn"i'h,nrl,oi OF Sl2O.OOO rer year. and he
M wls Lirrrtly undcr tho Commissioner Of I'm
mcratlpn ut New York. In addition. the
m!s-ionsr.
Mr Nnttl"ton submitted statement giving
~ uc.h'l me disbursement OF the amounts APP
S Mry%irla'rh Tor tho Improvement OF Ellis Island
sa nn NE me shurSement OF part OF the immgra-
Notn Ilund Tor continuing the improvement. Mr..
inr,Ui,.ton said that Mr.. Window. after consul
r man,h WIN officials OF the Treasury Depart
s %sni' decided that tho Immigration fund
snnll TO applied to this purpose. and did SO
dppniy, Part Of IT. and Congress- removed all
i Ia2, q tho legality Of doing this 10y insert
iS sSiI ~ tlin SundY Civil Appropriation bill for
aetiam" pr9Eiaon confirming and ratifying the
m an OF Secretary Window. and decldin:
S Spn ~" W." additional moneys from the Inn