The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-29
THE ELLIS ISLAND SCANDAL
Senator Chandler and Representative Stun
to Secretary Foster.

| Senator Chandler and Representative Stump
to Secretary Foster.
| WASHINGTON. April Ex-senator Chandler
and Representative Stump. Chairmen Of the
| Senate and House Committees on Immigra-
ton. have Joined in the following letter to sec-
| Rotary Foster. reviewing Attorney General
Miller's opinion that the use OF the immigrant
head money for the improvements on Ellis
Island was legal:
UNITED STATES SENATE. wAsBlxcrox April -, 1907.
70 the Ror Charles foste-. Secretary efhs snsuy.
sR We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt At
your instance through Assistant Secretary Neteeton
Of tho opinion. dated April 1892 of tho Attorney
General Affirming tho legal authority of the Treasury
Department to use the head money for the improve.
ments At Ellis Island. We glad that at this
late day legal opinion the question has been sought
and obtained. A the various specific appropriations
for those improvements were S25OO 900. and tho ex.
penditures already made are SOFA II must Be .
great satisfaction to the Attorney md that
no send to opinion that tho additional OF.
penditure Of $4,000 technically lawful and it
must be . relief to you to received
These committees have never expressed the opinion
that the expenditures from this head money abso
lutey illegal BY direction OF tho Of Congress
No have been endeavoring to ascertain whether
cessive expenditures at Ella Island were prudent.
capable economical administration OF tho Treasury
psrtment. and to learn who in fact well a. in
criticism communication. according as the case
ss' In Of IN: d.
from ny. III. ,0t
ornioa Of the As,ornsy General e hs.aiisd IL the
Department. viz 'of'
The construction Of statute. governing depart.
:a.lonEdn. facts and II question is submitted e tho
such facts aus likely make an erronsous az:
Il. HAS IL
81 the xtiorne yGenefa, he Communicated to him tho
That seereary Of the Treasury on tho 9th day of
De- E ns ss
in es sspa
the spefsd - 'S
En- was M a n.a S:.a
:sn,cn to s,,%a. adaiSn.
mat You'd
10 sns HOUSE com@t,ss on AppiopIs!ion:
ss
t he a. @ ns
q
I as' Sasa
%sn.y and ~. no .s. .pn,S% rom IT, Fs:s co@p
the expenditures sanctioned by tho Comptroller
down to the date Of the Socretays letter Of March
1892. requesting the Attorne Generals opinion.
The foregoing facts i SCENE to vs. should have been
II they not stated BY to the Attorney
while asking his opinion. They would have served to
AcQuaint him with tho circums surrounding the
enactment Of the clause OF the law in ueSton and
the expenditures hereunder OF the s86eooo in addi
ton to the $3.50 90 which wero necessary to full
and vivid comprehension Of tho transactions In Ap
provnl Of which his opinion desired in order that
II might transmitted to the committees for their
hghtenment.
We DO glad n have the whole series OF facts
communicated to tho AttorneyGenera!. with tho re-
n q
legal opinion ana his opinion and your
own not only as technical of the clause
in the act OF March 1921 but also in larger sense
whether the action Of the Treasury Department from
first last connection with the Ellis Island I'M
proveme nta has shown wise and competent admins.
trAtOn Of public affairs which opinions We shall take
pleasure In submitting to the committees.
1t ia understood that Secretary Fosters re-
ply will be transmitted to the committee with. |
In short time