The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-10-24

hotel until June f. 1891 when he was an
pointed immigrant Inspector by President
Harrison at salary of $4,000 per year,
payable monthly.
He presented himself at the trea sury
and Immediately commenced a racket
about a suitably furnished office" page
161 immigration investigation. If he is
elected secretary of state h Will doubtless
object 10 the modest quarters row occu-
pied by Capt. Myers.
The immigration investigation. above
cited, was investigated by Senator Chand-
Ter and ordered by both houses OF con-
gress Jan. %. 1892 Senator Chandler
was the chairman of the committee. The
administration of the immigration laws
under Harrison had been so scandaless
that even Senator Chandler had become
disguised, and this fact will give some
idea how bad it was The immediate
cause for the investigation was the gross
extravaganza in administering the immi-
grafton laws at Ellis's island. New York
harbor. Space prevents a discussion of
this, but one item is worthy of mention,
as it is d flag incident" The fiagpole
erected on the island cost the modest sum
Of $1,000. (See report, page 25). 1t is
not stated that the fiagpOle bore the flag
to which Gen. Harrison so frequently
alludes in his speeches.
But we are not now dealing with Gen.
Harrison. but his friend ana superintcnd-
ent, w. ID. Owen.
During the investigation the official con-
duct Of Mr.. Owen was brought out. Gen.
NettletOn was assistant secretary OF the
treasury. and Owen was 10 report his
work to him and receive instructions.
Owen said. during the discussion of the
bill, that the superintendent Of immgra-
ton was nothing more than a division
chief in the office of the secretary. He
changed his view after he became super
intendent and set himself up as bureau
officer.
A notable instapce Of This is found on
page 4. The investigation committee had
been appointed and the chairman called
on the secretary of the treasury for facts.
The letter was dated Feb. 10. and no an
swer having been received March >, the
chairman inquired of the assistant secre-
tsry why they were not forthcoming. He
answered that the first letter was found
on Owens desk without actiC and
neither the assistant secretary or lie sec
rotary knew it had been received.
owen Permits Assisted Immigrants
to Land.
In December, 1891, Owen writes to the
commissioner of immigration at New York
authorizing him to land assisted immi-
grants page 5D. This was directly in the
face of the ruling of the department and
in violation of the law and instructions
made for the government Of his office.
When found out he was called down by
Assistant Secretary Nettleton.
Permitted Importation Foreign Con-
tract LabOrers.
On page 169 is found the history of the
Neidrnghaus case.
A Mr.. Neidringhaus had been a brother
congressman with Owen from St. Louis.
Being out Of a job. as was Brother owen.
he contemplated the establishment of tin
plate works. Gen. Nettleton says a let
ter came to the department, presumably
addressed to the secretary, but owen got
hold of it. Neidringhaus asked permits
sion to import from Europe certain skilled
laborers. Nettleton says owen consulted
with him, but no conclusion was reached.
The next thing he heard of the matter
was a published letter from owen to
Niedringhaus authorizing him 10 import
the skilled worlmen.
Secretary Foster and Assistant Secre-
tary Nettleton were astounded when they
saw owens letter in print and Nettleton
in his evidence page 169) says that Sec
rotary Foster said that the Owen letter
had to be recalled in some manner. Secre-
tary Foster was forced to go back on
owen and write to Neidringhaus that the
Owen letter was unofficial. owen in
his letter spoke of the Italians as
"dagos."
The Neidringhaus letter shows that Mr.
Owen had no SCrupleS about violating his
own law and was willing to admit foreign
contract laborers.
The evidence Of Gen. Nettleton discloses
the fact that Mr.. owen could not write
grammatical or busnesslike letters He
had TO continually send his letters back.
This part of the evidence is very amusing
and abounds in such mistakes as using
'incriminated" instead of implicated"
Assistant Secretary NettIeton Roasts
owen.
on page 166 is letter dated March IS,
1892. written by Gen. Nettleton to Sec
rotary Foster 1t Is very interesting as
conveying the opinion of one Of HarrisOn's
appointees of another. 1t is rich read
ing and was published in The Sentinel
Thursday morning last The following
are the more salient features Of the roast:
Il. Mr.. w. d. Owen, superintendent of
immigration, is unfit and Incompetent to
perform the duties of the Office which he
holds.
"2. He is thoroughly Enthusiastically in
the performance of his official duties.
80 He has been guilty of circulating
malicious ISLANDERS against his superior
officer in the department.
~ His ideas of official regularity and
integrity are slipshod, reckless and a
source of serious risks to the public funds
partially within his control