The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-30
W<KKMAN AND THE MERCHANTS.
President King Says His Rulings Hnve
Been Arbitrary and Unjust.

President King Says His Rulings Have
been Arbitrary and Unjust.
In relation to the action contemplated BY tho
Merchants Association, or It's Custom House
Committee. concerning efforts to remove APP
praiser Wakeman. William f. King. President
OF the association. said yesterday:
This committee has been working onergeti-
cally in behalf OF Justice to the membsrs OF the
association who are connected with the i'm
porting trade. Mr.. Wakeman's rulings have
been arbitrary and unjust A committee. COM
posed OF John Glib OF Mills 4 GLIB. chairman |:
James McCreery. Horace J. Farchild OF the II.
B. ClaHin Co.. J. n. Wright OF Arnold. Con-
stable 4 Co.. Ut. Prize OF Carson. Prize Scott d
Co. OF Chicago and Kenneth Barnhart OF Mar
shall Fold 4 Co. OF Chicago. asked for a hear
ing before the Treasury Department at WASH
inRton on a ruling which had been made by
Appraiser wakeman on cotton fabrics. This
hearing was granted and 1t took place on Dec.
Is. at Washington. There were present at the
hearing. besides these gentlemen. Secretary
Gage and Assistant Secretary Spauldirg. On
the Saturday previous. Mr.. Wakeman had
visited Washington and had said that the i'm
porters were satisfied with the ruling he had
made and only wanted little more time to yet
used to H. This was absolutely false.
and returned TO New York very indignant over
committee stated that. In their judgment. the
time had come when the Appraiser OF this port
should cease to ride two horses. should show
some evidence OF a desire to be Just and that
the ar bitrary ru ings the holding IN OF mefchan-
disc and the dealings Of that office generally in
the past. had been detrimental TO this port and
its commercial interests. Some OF them
thought that the proper thing to do was to
start a petition at once asking for Mr. Wake
mans removal The matter was brought to
my notice and felt that IL could be settled In q
reasanter way than by creating undue agita-
The appointment OF Appraiser wakeman has
made 1t has created considerable discomfort
and dissatisfaction. / wrote TO the President
| aud called his attention to these facts. stating
| that q feeling OF unrest was being created
| among reputsble merchants and asking tina,
the com mercial interests be satisfied By the re.
| moyal OF Mr. Wakeman. His ONCE has already
| been Investigated and the recommendations
| made were detrimental to him. but he has been
| retained in office on the ground that he might
| as ne had had experience. to hrenk in new
appraiser would take a long time and nigh,
| create just as much trouble rs Mr.. Wakemar
| There has also been political controversy
| over this question which has been Injurious TO
| the entire subject. A petition was circulated
some time ago asking that Mr.. Wakeman be
| retained in ONCE. and n number OF prominent
| importers, while they would not sign the same
| agreed that they would not oprose his reten'
ton. The matter now rests with the officials
II do not believe In unnecessary agitation
handled on a strict commercial basis. We d.
| not want a man at tho head who Ia constantll
| trying TO harass the merchants doing business
here The Appraiser should be iust TO th'
iacturer and just to the importer That is al
| that Is wanted"