The San Francisco call., 1895-10-13
MAGU|RE ON THE CHARGES AGAINST DAGGETT

prescribed by law, concerning the appoint
ment OF employees in the coiner's depart
ment. Under the law the coiner is
authorized and required to nominate all
persons who are to be employed in the
coiner's department.. Mr.. Daggett him
self admitted to me that he had frequently
offered TO give Mr.. SPOTS certain places in
the Mint on condition that Mr.. SPOTS
would waive his right to object to such
persons as he, Daggett, might name for
employment in the coiner's department
After hearing that statement from MIR.
Daggett l saw Mr.. SPOTS and had talk
with him about the matter. 1 advised
him that under no circumstanc could he
make such an agreement; that the law
not only gave him the right of nomination
but impressed upon him the duty of pre-
venting the employment of improper or
unsuitable persons in his department;
that the failure to exercise that power
would constitute misfeasance in office and
that an agreement with Mr.. Daggett or
anybody else that he would not exercise
that power would be an act of NAL feasance
in Office.
"I am informed that there are number
of vacancies in the coiner's department
of the Mint, which in the interest of the
public service ought to be filled, but the
filling of which has been delayed by this
unseemly controversy between Mr.. Dag
gett and Mr.. Spotts."
"Mr. Daggett states that you have GER
tain patronage in the Mint. Do you de-
sire to say anything about that?" was
asked.
81 have no patronage of any kind in the
Mint nor do expect any either under Mr..
Daggett or under his successor should he
be removed" said Mr.. Mcguire mo per-
son has been appointed to any position in
the Mint upon my recommendation. At
the suggestion OF Mr.. Daggett recon-
mended two persons for employment in
the Mint, and Mr.. Daggett, after consider
ing the recommendations and his own
promises for several months decided not to
make the appointments. His refusal
was mere question of propr1ety
with him, the only thing to be
urged against his refusal being his volun-
tary promise, which was, perhaps, i'm
prudently made. He was under no obli-
cation of any kind to me. 1 protested
against his appointment as unfit and un-
worthy, and l would not have thought of
recommending any body to him but for his
own suggestion that he would make the
appointments in question if 1 would
recommend them. did not feel justified
in keeping deserving men out of places
simply because of my adverse opinion of
Mr.. Daggett, when he offered to make
the appointments on my recommendation.
LAS the best evidence that my charges
against Mr.. Daggett are based upon con-
siderations of public duty and not of mere
disappointment in the matter of patron
age, refer to other Federal officers under
the present administration who were ap-
pointed against my opposition and protest,
and from whom [ have never received nor
sought patronage, whose official conduct 1
have expressly approved and complimented
to the departments in Washington because
they have faithfully conducted their offices
without public scandal such as would JUS
tify if not require the presentation of
charges. Mr.. McCoppin was appointed
Postmaster of San Francisco against my
very strenuous objections. as strenuous as
in the case of Mr.. Daggett, yet have fre-
quently whenever the occasion has arisen
and to his superior officers in the Post
Office Department complimented him upon
LIS uHlBeHCe anu AuellIy III tAe PupIlC ser
vice and his excellent management of the
San Francisco Postoffice.''
Asked about what stand Senator White
would take in the matter, Mr.. Mcguire
said: GAS to Senator Whites position T
have no knowledge whatever. I am not
endeavoring to bring any outside influence
to bear for the removal of Mr.. Daggett, but
will let the matter rest solely upon the
charges and proofs. 1 have, therefore, not
consulted with Mr.. White nor do intend
to. Senator White protested, as 1 did,
against the appointment of Mr.. Daggett,
and as Mr.. Daggett's conduct has not been
better than we expected I do not expect
the Senator to espouse his cause with any
warmth"
ACChvIC u6aoyyvn-