New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-04-02
lfR. OWEN ON THE STAND.
HE REPLIES TO GENERAL NEI1LETON.
THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SCPEEiNIhN'
,,,.,.c .cr. N, CporNSr TEXTILES

THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUPEINTEN'
DENTS ACTs-MR. CRoUNsE TEsTFlEs.
Washington. April 1.-The Joint Committee on I'm.
migration ms morning continued the examination Of
Supcrintende owen Of the immigration Bureau Mr..
owen read y statcmeot in reply to Assistants eo'e
tary Ncttetons charges against him. lie cailed AT
tcnton TO the fact that he had not yet received iiVm
Secretary Fotser copy Of the charges ana hsSer'cu
that II ,was singular practice TO use before one
-rihuual charges made and still improved before
another II was alleged that Mrs. Ernst had ASSISTED
hor husband I'm the clerical work he performed. Wit
ness had been Informed by Mr.. Nettleton that she
could not legally be paid, and that the voucher was
Irregular Perhaps witness should have erased Ihs
signature from the voucher, but he knew that IL
could not be passed without the action OF the As
sisont Secretary witness had not charged his nina
with tho matter. Mr. owen, through liS statement
also replies in detail to Mr.. Nettlcon's charecs, reH
five 10 the bids for medical instruments, TO the al
mission OF Russian Hebrew immigrants, aud 20 inc
Niedrnghaus matter. lie maintained 'hat nc ii'
acted with integrity, and insinnated timt MI Net
tlcon Influenced by personal pQuc because aho III
migration Act OF 1601 had been passed, bad uohe III
he could TO hamper and hinder the operations OF III,
Bureau from the day IT created. whether or nor
he (Nr owen was by personal qualifications ht'cd
for his place he did not undertake to say, but wahea
without apprehension the result Of Inquiry lto
his official actions after dhey had been fary cah'n7Sc
After Mr. owen had read his statement he was ex-
amined relative TO the varous occasions when there
had been friction between himself and Assistant sec
rotary NettleOn He told OF the trouble lie had had
about his Office room In the Treasury also OF the all
terence between himself and Mr.. Ncttet0n, growing
ont OF The action OF the latter in tho Jinni6ksha"
case when the japanese carriers hhd bcch aepor'eu
After that the more or less famous Niedrinshans
case had mp. In his statement witness hao saio
that he had written the letter in that case AFTER con
nd str
with his tMr. Netletons) views. The difference be
tween them was one OF recollection OF the conversation
"When censure came from the secretary sa'd Mr.
Owen deliberately "the Assistant Secretary leu the
blow SAN upon the subordinate WIN had ooeyed MS
orders"
senator Chandler cynlcally quered; = hat Is nov
an unusual occurrence Is it?'
NO SIR replied Mr. owen regre'fnly.
Almost Immediately Senator Chandler turned the
witnesses words against him. lie made an inquiry
relative TO the use by Mr. owen OF the words italian
dagoes- I'm an official letter Mr.. owen admitted that
he had used the words in debating the letter. but on
reading II over had directed them to be stricken OUT
and had Instructed his secretary not to use tleh
officially When the letter appeared in the news
papers witness fonnd that his secretary had failed to
strike ont the words.
Then you transfer the blame 10 your subordinate
bandy asked Mr. Chandler.
There was n ripple of laughter and Mr.. Owen was
Obliged 10 admit that he did. He said that the words
"dagocsn and "Jews' were not essentially OFFENSIVE
but that they could be mace 10 lhhe on IN usS io"
In certain
Senator Chandler next Instituted n line Of inquiry
with view to ascertain II the methods pursued in the
I buNau were In accordance with Official nstrucuoh''
Witness maintained that he had always acted In con-
formy with his Instructions. He told how the mhi
for his bureau had in OctJSer last been diverted 10
Assistant Secretary NettctOn's desk thus delaying
| Siv
tested I'm letter the chief Of the mail division ana
that his ma be delivered TO him as the DO
m,rtment rules required. lie had done this after On
during for three months the detention of his mall In
Mr.. Netteton's office.
Mr. owen mex, charged that Assistant Secretary
Nettleton Ind dsrcgsricd the Department circular
placing the appointment and dismissal OF Immigrant
inspectors under the charge OF the Superintendent OF
Enumeration Mr. Yettleton had Instructed the ohicf
OF the apoirtment division 10 give no informauoh "
the Immigration bureau relative 10 these appointments
or dismissals, and had thus made 10 Impossible lot
witness TO respond TO inquiry from Congressional
committee relative TO these matters which were techni
caly under his charge. Within the last week. how
ever information relative 20 these appointments and
dismissals had agnn been furnished TO hls ONCE
witness had had personal relations with Assistant
Secretary Netteton since last january.
| Going into the matter OF the trouble due 10 the
admission OF NM l;ussian Hebrews on letter from
| witnrss Mr. owen said he believed he had authority
therefor no Information had ever been lodged In his
oftoe that any Of the Russian hebrews lad become
| public charge. .,,- l.
| Mr. owen said that he had never had anything 70
do with the Ellis Island imprisonment he W.. never
consulted abOut them, and he did not seek 10 nave
| ANYTHING 70 with them. He had nothing to 90
with substituting dvl surgeons for Marine Hospital
surgeons and until three months did not know d.
Tonner. in charge Of Ellis Island. was not Marine
Hospital surgeon as the law contagPlai rScrv no
parment testified that at his suggestion ne laying
~ an independent cable 10 Ellis Island had been
stopped. he thought perhaps there might NOT DO
sufficient need OF It 10 warrant the expense necessaty
| 10 protect the cable from anchors, etc. The cable
cost ~ 825 inclusive Of laying, which had not been
| done He had no criticism to make Of Ellis lsland
expenditure he not very familiar with them.
| Mr. Nct,leton being in charge OF immigration mat
| tiers.