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


from TT. Wayne electioneering for the next
presidential nomination, please explain to
the good people who will gather about your
car platform your part in the following
transaction:
The Hon. w. D. Owen. republican can
didate for secretary of state. was a men,
Der Of the Fifty-frst congress. He failed
to secure an election TO the Fifty-second
congress in 1890 and when he returned
to Washington in December, 1890. he i'm
mediate,y commenced to skirmish for a
good place under Harrison after his term
would close. March 4, 1891.
lie was a member Of the committee on
immigration and this position afforded him
an opportunity to feather his nest. He in
troduced and had referred to his commit
tee a number of bills making amendments
to the immigration laws. But he did not
get up a bin to suit himself until Feb. 13,
1891. when he introduced house bill No.
1856. See congressional record, page
2,736. OF course he had this bill referred
to his committee. Feb. "a he secured from
Car Reed an evening session of the house
to consider bills reported by the immigra-
ton committee. See Record. page 1858.
OF course he called up house bill No.
1856.
The seventh section OF that bill i'm
mellately provoked discussion. 1t con-
tanned the meat Of the bill and without
it Mr. owen would be left out In the cold.
That section Is as follows:
section Z. That the Office Of superin-
tendsnt Of immigration is hereby created
and established. and the president CBen-
jamln Harrison) by and with the advice
and consent OF the senate. IS authorized
and directed to appoint such officer. whose
salary shall be $1,000 per annum payable
monthly The superintendent of immigra-
ton shall be a. officer in the treasury de-
partment, under the control and super
vision OF the secretary Of the treasury, to
whom he shall make annual reports in
writing Of the transactions Of his office. to-
gether with such special, in writing, as the
secretary of the treasury shall require. The
secretary shall provide the superintendent
WITH a suitably furnished office In the city
Of Washington, and with such books OF
record and facilities for the discharge of
the duties Of his office as may be neces-
sary. lie shall have a chief clerk at
salary Of $4,000 per annum, and two first
class clerks"
Mr. Oats Of Alabama moved to strike
out this section and then Mr.. owen came
to It's defense. ON page 1854 Owen says:
The establishment Of this office does not
cost this government single dollar. II
is paid out of the immigration fund" He
had carefully prepared his bill so he could
raid the immigration fund and thus at
tack tho treasury IN ar indirect way. This
was near the c,oSe Of Reeds billOn-dollar
congress and the direct attacks on the
treasury had alarmed the country. ST. Mr..
owen proposed to make an indirect attack.
The discussion OF the bill was continued
until late on the night Of the Feb. "a,
owen making a desperate effort 10 get his
bill through before adjournment. He
failed, but Feb. %, through the aid Of
Car Reed. he had it passed See Record,
page 3,479.
The bin was afterward passed by the
senate and presented TO Benjamin Har-
rison, president.
Harrison Helps His Friend owen.
After its presentation to the president
he referred it TO his secretary Of the
treasury for report. The secretary Of
the treasury did report on the bill, and
part of the report makes very interest
ing reading. both for Mr.. President Har-
rison and W. d. owen. The seventh sec
ton Owens soft snap) attracted the at
tention of the secretary and he said:
Treasury Department,
"Ohice of the Secretary,
washington, d. c., March 3, 1891.
1.-The President:
'In reply to so much of your note Of
the I'd inst. as relates to house bill No
1856, for amendment to the various acts
relative to immigration and the impOrta-
ton Of aliens under contract or agree
ment to perform labor, have the honor
10 say that 1 know of no objection to
your approval of the same, except that
sec. of the bill proposes to create a
new office or bureau in the treasury de-
partment, to be called the office of su-
81
perintendent is to have salary Of $4,000
per annum, a chief clerk at a salary Of
81 900 per annum, and two first-class
clerks, and who are to be provided by
the secretary with suitably-furnished
office in the city of Washington and with
such books of record and facilities for the
discharge of the duties Of his office as
may be necessary.
In view Of the fact that the immigra-
ton business has been under the special
supervision of one Of the assistant secre-
taries. and has been satisfactorily con-
Quoted 10y him, 1 respectfully suggest
that there was no necessity whatever for
the creation of the new Office referred to,
with its largely increased and necessary
expenditures The force already en-
ployed in this department on the immi-
grafton business is amply adequate for
its satisfactory discharge.
Respectfully yours,
"a. b. NETTUETON,
Acting Secretary"
But President Harrison did not take
the advice of his secretary of the treas
ury He had 10 provide a place for his
friend Owen or gloom would overshadoW
the white house. His secretary of the
treasury said there was no necessity for
the office, but this didn't count, and
March 8, 1891. Benjamin Harrison, as
president, approved the bill.
The full text Of this letter is published
in report of immigration investigation,
No $780, house of representatives, Fifty
second congress, first session, page 240.
This report is a voluminous document
of 79S pages and contains many interest
ing statements affecting Mr.. Owen.
Congress adjourned March 4, 1891. and
w. d. Owen was off the payroll His
bill was law which should have been
put into operation Immediately. For some
reason President Harrison hesitated His
secretary of the treasury had informed
him that there was no necessity for the
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