New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-12
THE WHlTIS-IT COMMISSION.

Tho Commission which, through the fantastic
efforts of Mr. MacFarlane and the boorish Dln-
,ol;tv Of Poindexter Dunn, is rapidly tangllng
tho administration of Mr.. Cleveland in scan
dal which will make the Custom House abuses
they are ostensibly trying to uncover respect
able by comparison is itself mystery. 1t Is
uniouc. phenomenal What is its origin, ITS
mission, its authority, its functions? What Is
IFS official status? Under what law Is it con-
stituted? What are its instructions? What
Is IFS reason for being, and what is it driving
at These are the questions that naturally
arise in the mind Of any one who has al
tempted to keep track of It's performances or
divine the drift Of its purpose. That it is par
tisan is evident enough. That il has none but
uartisan ends in view, and has only muddled
notion how TO attain them. has been made
nlain by the fcathcr-headed MacFarlanc, while
the utter brutality OF its partsanShip has been
demonstrated by the loose-t)ngued Dunn.
Dunn was It's pioneer. With promptness
born of an Arkansas appetite for Office he sud
denly appeared at the Custom House ana
opened proceedings by sitting on table,
swinging his legs under it and talking to re-
polters at a cost to the Government of $40
day. Slowly followed Magonc. Then with
reluctance implying knowledge Of the siua-
ton Farchild came in, stayed briefly, went
out. and has only fitted in and out at intervals
since To compensate for his absence this
remarkable body was reinforced by the voublc
and yocfcrous MacFarllnc whose function, II
WAS announced was 10 conduct the cXamina-
tion Of witnesses. 80 far as any one knew or
could guess at the mission of this queer con
Germ. it was 10 make inquiries concerning the
truth of certain reports published in "Thc Dry
Goods Chroniclc'' involving chlrgcS al fraud
in apprai>as. These rep0r.s included olllcial
documents from the files in the Appraiser ;
Office. The disclosure they made was that APP
rr2iscr Cooper, having discovered what he con
sidered evidence of fraud on the part Ct one
of his subordnates, had cndeayorcd 10 have
him removed and been unsuccessful. Tbs be-
inc the ostensblc starting point OF the inquiry
what did this funny trio set themselves about
ut the outset? Why t. finding out how the
correspondence which gave chem their only
prctoxt for being boclmc public, and they de-
voted week to the interesting operation Il
examining and cross examining witnesses on
this point, and trying by all the methods al
ToInbs shy to involve the Appraiser HIM
self in contradictions and inconsistencies. The
Appraiser got tined of their badgcring and their
insults and sent in his pcrcmrtory resignation.
In his letter Of resignation he raises one Of the
questions above stated He calls these persons
ian unofficial Commission"
To this the limbcr-lipped Macf arlane has re
Piled in a published interview. He says We
are an official Commission. We have full
power to administer oaths, under section ls3
of the Revised Statutes Of the United States
That seems conclusive. Let us see jus, what
the authority is under which these persons are
acting. Section 1873 of the Revised Statutes
is as follows:
ANY officer or clerk Of any 81 the Departments
lawfully detailed 10 investigate frauds or attempts
70 dlraud on the Government. or any irrcsunriy or
misconduct Of any officer or agent OF the lhed states
shall have authority to administer an oath To any
witness attempting to testify or dcposc In the course
OF such investigation.
So that's the authority for the What-iS-it
Commission. Mr.. Magonc, arc you " an officer
or clerk of any Of the Departments Are
YOU. Mr. Pondcxtcr Damn? Or You, Mr.
Fairchild? Or You, legal lumlnary OF the
Commission, Mr. MacFarlanc? What office do
you or any Of you hold that qualities You to
act on this Commission, administering olthS,
browbcatng witnesses and flirting yoar dele
gated pussancc in the faces If the GOycrnm mt
employees you are trying % find excuses for
dismissing from the service? Are you special
agents? If 50. you are investigating u matter
in which the branch Of the service - which YOU
belong is specially intrustcd, and that is gross
in1cccncy. If You arc special agents You
cannot be drawing $40 a day, for there's no
warrant in law for it. You certainly are not
clerks. What are you, gentlemen, anyway
We are aware that the President assumed the
power to appoint Commissioner to Hawaii
and to give him "paramount authority" over
the accredited representative Of the Govern
mcnt, but is that assumption to be continued
and made general? Tell us more about it,
Mr.. MacFarlanc Your reference 10 Section 1873
mysties instead Of cnlightening us.