The San Francisco call., 1897-11-14
MAJOR MOORE
AND HIS FOES
They Are in Raptures Over
a Mysterious Tele-
gram.
1t Hinted That the Major
Would Be Sacrificed to
Please Them.
Ex-Colleotor Wise and E. B. Jerome
Said to Have Been the Most
Pleased of All.

For the past two or three days there has
been great rejoicing among the friends of
John II. Wise, eX-Collector of Customs,
and of E. B. Jerome, his ex-deputy, be-
cause of report from Washington to the
effect that Major Moore, special agent If
the treasury at this point, was about TO
be dismissed through Mr.. Wise's intiu-
ence.
Mr. Wise obtained his own appointment
as Collector OF Customs chiefly because his
interests as a wool merchant had been se
riously jured by the Wilson tariff bill,
but being rabid Democrat (Damocraticus
ferox), he stuck to the party, consoled by
the reflection that what he might lose on
wool through the free-trade policy of the
Democratic party would be more than
mpensated for by the benefit which
would accrue to his wholesale whisky in
te1es,s.
Mr.. Wise was rewarded by appointment
TO the collectorship OF the port, but he
had not been seated long in the padded
chair In the red-room in the Custom
house before he felt the prick of very
long and very sharp thorn. That thorn
was the special agent of the treasury,
D
uncom promising Republican.
Major Moore made it lively for both
WISE and Jerome They couldn't do a
thing that was off color, politically, that
was not known in Washington, and it was
an open secret in the Custon-house that
both those gentlemen especially excepted
Major Moore III their prayers for the well
fare of mankind.
Mr. Wise's successor, Colonel Jackson,
is said to share with Jerome and Wise a
holy horror of the major and OF his
espionage. The ma jOr has kept sharp
lockout on things because he believes that
a special agent is the eye OF the Govern
ment, always open to see :hat the Govern
ment does not suffer. The colonel be-
lieves that the office OF the special agent
is 10 advise and console the heads of de.
parlments.
Hence Colonel Jackson was observed to
smile with Clerk Jerome two or three days
ago when the report reached the Custom
house that Congressman Wise of Virginia
had telegraphed to Harry Wise, son of
the ex-Collector, a dispatch reading ac-
cOrding to one account, 1--WE have landed
him at last" and according to another
version, 1--WE have bagged our game
min" and 'our game" being interpreted
10 mean the abhorred major.
1t was at first reported that the ma ior
was to be dismissed from the service for
having made things uncomfortable for
Wise, Jerome and few others Then the
re port was amended by a rumor to the
effect that the major wonld not be dis
missed, but that the office would be
abolished on the ground OF economy.
The last report brought forth a wide
smile among those who knew what the
duties of special agent of the treasury
were. 1t would be equivalent 10 leaving
the outer door and the vaults of the SUBJ
treasury unlocked all night on the ground
of economy.
Major Moore himself has heard nothing
from Washington. He was not aware
that any charges had been filed against
him, although his friends say he was
aware tha; Wise, Jerome and another
high official had been working for some
time for his downfall.
Harry Wise b. came rather excited when
asked yesterday by a CALL reporter as to
the truth or falsity of the report concern
ing the telegram.
There is no truth in the report what
ever" he said vehemently. "No telegram
OF that kind has been received and know
nothing absolutely about the mater. l
only hope that the re port is true. If ply
steal energy were the only thing required
to get MAJOR Moore out, l would lend all l
have"
1t had been stated positively TO men,
bers OF the press by person ry friendly
10 the Wise and Jerome interests that
such a telegram had been received.
Has the scheme fal Ell through or has
some BODY crawfished?
NJ a ior Moore says nothing except that
he knows nothing. But warlike gleam
in his starboard eye suggests that the
Treasury Department may have some
thing to say pretty soon.