New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-14
THE ELLIS ISLAND IMPROVEMENTS.

A SPICY LETTER FROM SECRETARY FOSTER TO
CHMRMTN CHANDLER AND STUMP.
Washington. May 3-Secretary Foster has written
the following letter 70 Senator Chandler and Rep
rcsentative stamp. cha'rmcn Of the Joint committee
investigating the Fills Island Improvements:
have received and read your communication OF
aprn % relating mainly opinion the Attorney
General in which he aeirms the authority OF the
Treasury Department to portion of the bead money
for IN. construction and equipment of immigrant and'
ing station on Ellis Island
While both the substance and spirit OF yenr le'tcr
are occasion for profound surprise, reasonable re9s
for those prophecies which usually characterize cor
respondence public questions betw-en ohci0S repre-
sentng different branches of the Government VIII pro'ec.
mo against any temptation adopt similar oAe anu
thereby TO double the occasion 'or ss'"n'sh"''i' w "
greet . - an
yopr letter appears to express dsapprovu OF m OIL
cial act OF officer in giving 10 me his CONSTRUCTION
Of statute that called upon TO administer; ana VET
Won do not to disagree with the Atorneyher"' !"
his CONCLUSIONS as gather the sentence rms CONF
mittee have expressed the opinion mat .ne v
pendtures from the head money were aos'iu''H nv
aal" Doubtless Attorney General would have oeeh
.,ood I, vou, EXPRESSION Of approval had been more
definite and YOU had NJ 70 use some other ""lu
qualifying 'Ilega' than that used by YOU Po" y.
eection perhaps you will conclude that the pn'"~' 'o
,,rtcly Illegal is somewhat ne6ulous- ~ conveys !"
the mind o. the ordinary reader the same imfv wa.
he receives upon reading Of 'olenbiy eo"u ees' :.
wholly and positively are synonymeS Tor
,hcn doubtless Attorney General Will pc p'"'''
N know that you agree with him so "r az
. or that the expenditures referred 70 were only hluo
.llegalp and that at the worst only ''nheefc''s
This will doubtless be as gratifying 10 MN - "e H
edge OF that canon OF Interpretation VI sH' .,
Won favor me WITH namely that the meaning OF s''"
is be ascertained by faets, ns'iy vi WV"
after its enactment ~
With reference to the inquiry as 70 ""he"or e'
nupicated TO the Attorney General the seven s'ouFs
facts rccapituated by you. have the honor 10 10y O''
l did not 49,, .,..,a sor,os ~
Referring to your desire to have the "~nsie sres VI
facts communicated the Attorney Gencra' win u'o
request that che will state whether or not "'y Ho!
his legal opinion" submo is matter OF pcsohai cuf'
ositvwith which have concern whate'@' pouo"eSs
the AtorneyGen will make appropriate reply "'hou'
the intervention or solicitation Of the head OF the treasury
Department. ,, 40,
your own (mine) not only 70 technical meaning oi
the clause in the act OF g. 1891 but" etc lou
will no doubt IL modesuy decline 70 give you
such opinion. / am not q lawyer, ana h"ce IL "'"i.
seem TO indicate for 70 ntfuoe my op'h'" oi
the technical meaning etc. Of the statute referred TO-
Won ask INV opinion 'also larger whether the
actions OF the Treasury Department from first last In
Ellis Island improvement have SHOWN
wise and competent administration Of public aiars whch
opinion -ha take pleasure in submitting TO III. com
mttee" 1t must be known to you that very much OF wh''
has been connection with the Ellis Island improve
nent !naugurat1 prior TO my becoming sec'eufy OF
the Treasury all that has been done since mas oh
done immediate supervision Of The supervising
architect eciet and trusted oihcer OF The lr,os"y
Department Assistant Secretary Ncueton. am not Ia
milar with all details Of the various improvements
made on Island and in connection with the ednsua
lion of the immigration aud procuring facilities for
doing this business and cannot state whether from hrss
10 last, each and every detail would have been approved by
me- and L can state you well know, that In larger
sense' Secretary Of the Treasury, Responsible of
what has been done that in main believe 1t To have
been well and wisely done. and that this work VIII remain
a. an evidence OF the wisdom and humanity OF this Govern
the criticism that has asssed IT has passed.
from the public mind. Respectfully yours
CHARLES FOSTER Secretary.