Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-30
BLAMEs MS srENoaRAPHER.a-
MT. Owens Explanation OF Alleged Irreru-
larities CHARGED hx Mr Neftlston-


Mr. Owens Explanation OF Alleged Irregu-
iarities Charged by MT. Nettleton.
After TAs srAR's report closed yesterday,
Assistant Secretary Crounse was examined by
the joint committee Of Congress investigating
Immigration affairs Mr.. Crounse said his per-
sonal opinion was adverse to the wisdom Of
general use Of head money for public building
or other purposes. He thought it an invita-
tion to extravagance, and, while he regarded
the policy a. a thing settled upon before he
went into Office he thought it best to admonish
Mr.. Edbrooks to carefully watch Ellis Island
expenditures
SUPERINTENDENT OWN EXAMINED.
Superintendent Owen Of the immigration bu-
reau vas then asked to take the stand and was
examined by Senator Chandler, who first asked
him about the voucher for $l17 to which Mr.
Ns;tleton objected. Mr.. Owen said Hugh A.
Ernst was stenographer to him (Owen) aud
presented bill for overtime work Witness
knew that Ernst had done q great deal
Of work after hours for the immi-
grafton bureau, and in pursuance Of the
orders OF witness; he therefore felt the
bill ought to be paid. but ascertained that
80 could not be paid in the ordinary way OF
doing business One day Ernst aud the book
keeper In witness Office said Acting Chief Rose
OF the appointment division had instructed
them that II they would make out the voucher
on an incidental expense voucher and Mr..
Owen approved the voucher the Secretary
could direct Its payment. he was sure other
vouchers had been so paid The voucher was
not TO be made out in the name OF the person
who did the work, but of the assignee IL was
made out in the name of Nellie III. Ernst. Wit
ness signed ii, and. taking the voucher,
said he would look into it himself,
- he had never heard Of an account being
assigned and there might be some ques-
tion about it. Asked Assistant Secretary Spauld-
Ing about the matter and he said he did not see
how it could be done. Witness returned the
voucher to Ernst. as was customary, and told
him IL could not pass and that it would be nee
sssary 20 60 to Congress for the money. Ernst
subsequently said Mr.. Rose had asked him for
the voucher, he sure it could be paid
Witness paid no further attention to it. as the
voucher should. in the regular way, como back
TO him before anything could be done. Witness
went to New York and the next he heard Of the
matter was the receipt of Nettleton's note ask
ing by what authority Nellie Ernst had been
employed
Witness then learned that the voucher had
been put in, but without the assignment and
itemiZed statement which should have gone
with 1t. He told Ernst that while Mr.. Roses
act was friendly transaction and not an OFF,
cial one he ERNST should not have let the
voucher go out Of his hands without the ac-
eompanying assignment Witness supposed at
that time Rose had asked Nettleton about it
and the latter wanted to see If the service had
been performed The voucher could not in
any regular way come before Gen. Nettleton-
The next witness heard was Of the
charges made by Mr.. Nettleton. Suisse
quently he asked Ernst for his resignation.
Witness told Ernst he had no doubt ne ERNST
intended to act properly, but under the cir
cumstances and in view Of Mr.. Nettleton's ask
ing witness at the conference with Secretary
Foster, And you still keep that man your
employ, he had better resign. Witness re-
fused to recommend Ernst reinstateme MT, but
on the 25th instant Ernst was reinstated without
witness knowing any thing aboutit until he pre-
sented himself for duty. Gen. Nettleton had
charge Of appointments, but witness could not
say whether or not he or Secretary Foster had
reinstated Ernst.
THE BIDS ron GLASS WARE.
The matter Of the glass ware Mr. Owen ex-
planned by stating that there were six bids re-
ceIved, two each for different articles. Witness
dictated . letter to Ernst and directed him to
embody the lowest bids in each case in the let
ter. 1t was the day Ernst was to 60 out of
ofice and there was considerable confusion.
In some way Ernst copied all the bids, highest
and lowest, into the body Of the letter. As
Ernst was . competent man witness perfume
torily signed the transcribed letters, and did
net ascertain the clerical error until the mis-
take was discovered in New York The body
of the letter showed 1t was Q mistake. Asked |
about the character of corrections made by
Mr.. Nettleton in his letters witness said he
wrote that two firms did not appear to be '.in- |
eliminated" The letter was returned with the
suggestion that he should have said '.impli- |
Gated"
Senator Squire. asking if there was lack Of
cooperation between witness and Assistant
Secretary Nettlston, witness said they did not |
dwell together a. angels are supposed to. Did
net think the public service HAD suffered much, |
- witness had striven to do his duty and Mr. |
Nsttlston himself had testified there was no
serious difference of opinion as to immigration
policy.
He denied absolutely having circulated any
slandsreus or unsruthful reports about Mr.. |
Nsttleton.