Evening journal., 1892-03-30
BOTH HEADS MAY DROP.
Treasury Department Officials
in a Scandalous Snarl.
OWEN Is ACCUSED BY NErTLEToE.

OWEN is ACCUSED BY NETTLET0E.
The Assistant Secretary Charges the SUI
psrintendent of Immigration with he
ing Of "shipshod Integrity" As weIl as
with Incompetence aud MaIiciousness.
WASHINGTON, March 30 The presenta-
tion today before the JOINT congressional
committee on immigration by Assistant
Secretary Nettleton of his formal charges
TO Secretary Foster against W. ID. owen,
superintendent Of immigration, is the first
official statement respecting controversy
which has ragged within the treasury de-
partment with more OF leas violence ever
since the establishment and equipment Of
the bureau under the act of 1890, and espe-
cially since the now somewhat notorious de-
cision by the superintendent upon ex- ON
gressman Niederinghaus application to be
permitted 20 secure number Of foreign
worhmen for his tinplate plant in St. Louis.
The overruling of tho superntenaent's
decision by Assistant Secretary Nettleton
led 10 stUiined relations between the two
officials, which has become more and more
SO until a rupture ensued two or three
months ago, since which time there has
been no intercourse between them except
such as Is absolutely necessary for the dis
charge OF their duties.
The superintendent OF immigration took
| exceptions 10 his manner OF ovorrulins in
the Nediernghaus case on the ground. be
I says, that Assistant Secretary Nettieton APP
proved, verbally, his action IN the case and
then changed his views when the decision
was made public The situation, il is known,
has been source of much dncomfort 90 Sec
retary Foster, who has vainly sought to
compose the difficulties that grow out Of and
accompanied IT, An official who Ia in a posi-
tion to Judge the results gives II as his opin-
ion that the upshot OF the matter viii be
that both Assistan. Secretary Nettietou and
Superintendent Owen will leavo the depart
ment whatever may be the outcome of the
pending investigation.
The President Appealed To.
This opinion, he says, be has formed from
an acquaintance with the methods of the
two men. Mr. Owen, he continued WAS
disappointed in finding the scope Of bis au-
thority limited by the jurisdiction of the
secretary of the treasury. An active pro-
moter, II not the author Of the law under
which the bureau was established Mr.
Owen believes that in ts administration be
would be independent on any authority save
that Of congress. To find himself subjected
to the secretary Of the treasury was di-a-
, greeable surprise, not only 30 himself, but
! TO the Influences which were largely instru-
mental in securing his appointment
Il is said that appeals wero made to the
president 20 remove the bureau Of immigra-
tion from the jurisdiction Of the trasury
department, but the response of course,
was that a change in the law by congress
l would be necessary 10 effect that The in
o vestigation also brought 20 the surface in
b one OF the statements made by Assistant
II Secretary Nettleton, another source Of dis
e comfort to department officials, growing ont
e Of the administration OF Affairs at the i'm
e migrant station, New York. This is tho
l. course pursued by Commissioner Weber
Is and Assistant Commissioners O'Beirne. lt
e has been felt for some time chat the policy
pursued at Ellis island, especially in the
matter of admitting immigrants on bond
aud by other similar schemes, gave good
/ ground for the criticism that the design OF
" the law was In a measure therpby defeated.
q The lack Of harmony between the COM
e missioner ana the assistant commissioner,
< which has recently been brought to public
e notice through Official correspondence On
the subject also had a ten0ancy to emhar-
rass the officials of the department in in
forcing the law. Colonel Weber and Gem
D. eral O'BeiIne have both been at the depart
K ment within tie past day OF two The OBJ
Al iect of their isit is, of course a matter OF
e speculation. The only evidence bearing
Ia upon it that has leaked out il a cablegram
received the other day st the department.
from prominent Republican of New York,
2. said to be in Europe now on a confidential
{, government mission, asking as "a personal
A. favor that Colonel Weber be retained as
IA commissioner Of immigration.
" Sensational Charges.
It But the sensational feature OF the session
was the introduction Of a letter written by
General Nettleton 70 the secretary of the
treasury accusing W. d Owen, superintend.
40 ent of immigration, II incOmpetency IN
n tirstworthiness, Official irregularty, slip
r shodn integrity and circulating malicious
e. ISLANDERS against department officers
p In the letter It is also charged that on
Feb. %, 1892, Colonel Weber, Commissioners
of immigration, transmitted to the secre
l. tary Of the treasury bids Tor furnishing sup
: plies, with the recommendation that the
I, lowest bid, S02S.O5, be accepted, while on
\, Feb. "a Mr.. Owen had check Of 81 ,6i9 2
=. drawn to pay for the articles specified in the
bid Of s62SO5. On Mr.. MasOn's certifcats
as TO its correctness the check was signed
He also directly charged that Owen hat
n certified TO fictitious salary vouchers foi
d Sli7JO, made out in the name Of persoi
he not in the department, and chat he tOweu
TX had when challenged admitted the irregula
k transaction.
Mr.. Owen, in response 60 questions, nai,
that he had nothing TO 10 with improve
ments at Ellis island. He had in some par
e ticulars conjoint authority with the assist
IL ant secretary of the treasury, Mr.. Hsttle
Ill ton, but be had nothing to do with expendi
u lures
knights Hard Luck.
BIRMINGHAM, Conn, March 30.-Patric
Knights two houses were destroyed by hrs
er knight built the houses by working a
ID night and Sundays and had Just complete
Ks them. He is employed in mill here dun
to ing the day.
Milan a Russian subiecs.
ST. PETERSBURG March 80 The car ha