The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-28
THE ELLIS ISLAND SCANDAL.
SECRETARY FOSTER DTsPLEAsED WITH
GIN. NETTLETON'S TESTIMONY.
He Has Practically Determined to Back Up
the 1nvestigatine Committes In Recon-
mending His Removal from the Once OF
Assistant Secretary OF the ,rreasury.

the Investigating Committee In Recon.
mendine His Removal from the once OF
Assistant Secretary OF the Treasury.
WASHINGTON. March 27.-secretary Foster is
SO displeased with the testimony of Assistant
Secretary Nettleton during the pending inves-
tigation Of Ellis Island expenditures that he
has practically determined to recommend his
removal from office. There is the highest
authority for the statement, and 1t is also
known that several OF Gen. Nettleton's subor-
dinates have fallen under Secretary Fosters
displeasure. The Secretary has made no con-
cealment of his astonishmcnt at the remark
able developments Of the investigation and Is
convinced that Assistant Secretary Nettleton
and other Treasury officials have been
guilty OF the grossest negligence. AT one
point in the investigation last week
Secretary Foster asked to DO excused from re.
plying to the question whether he thought
Gen. Nettcton had been derelict in his official
duties in not notifying him Foster, OF the fact
that Secretary Window had given guarantee
to Congress that the expenditures for Ellis
Island should not exceed certain amount.
The committee excused the Secretary from
answering tho question and erased It from
the stenographer's notes. This action was
regarded at the time as very significant. 1t
has since been ascertained that the Secretary
did not wish to reply to the question.
for the reason that he was decidedly of
the opinion that Gen. Nettleton had been
grossly remiss in his duties in not informing
him Of the state of affairs. but did not wish to
condemn him without an investigation. He
has since looked into Ellis Island affairs very
closely, and is convinced that Gen. Nettleton
should have consulted with him and advised
him of what had been and was being done.
especially in view of the fact that in his testi-
mony before the committee the Assistant Sec
rotary had endeavored to shift all responsible
ity to the shoulders OF his official chief.
Secretary Foster was. moreover. much dis
pleased at tho testimony OF First Comptroller
Matthews. On Thursday last the Comptroller
testified that. although it was his official duty
to investigate all vouchers. no had allowed
some Of those for Ellis Island expenditures
without examining them thoroughly as to
enable him to explain them fully to tho COM
mittee Secretary Foster. in his testimony.
told the committee frankly that he held AS
sistant Secretary Nettleton responsible for tho
management OF Ellis Island affairs. and he
agrees with the committee that the CLIQUE of
Treasury officials. with Gen. Nettleton at tho
head. aud including First Comptroller Mat
thews. arc accountable for the extravagant
expenditures.
The members OF the investigation COM
mittee make no secret OF the fact that their
report will be almost, II not quite unanimous
in condemnation of Assistant Secretary Net
tleton ana in recommendation for his removal.
One Of them said to THE Sun correspondent
tonight that Gen. Nettetons attempt to shift
the responsibility for illegal expenditures to
Secretary Foster had proved utterly futile so
far as the committee is concerned. and that
they. as we'll as the Secretary. will place the
responsibility where it belongs. AS an evil
dence that Gen. Netteton was quite evasive in
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