The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-10
WAKEMAN EXONERATEn,
MOST OF THE CHARGES AGAINST
HIM NOT WE'LL FOUNDED.

WARRINGTON. Sept. 9.-After fully consider
! ing the report OF the committee appointed to
| investigate the administration OF the New
York Appraisers ONCE. the President and
Secretary OF the Treasury have sustained APP
praiser Wilbur f. Wakeman. and most OF the
I charges against him are shown to have been
not we'll founded. 1t Is decided. however. to
grant the petition made by certain New York
importers that he resign from his once as
| Secretary OF the Protective Tariff League. tho
| investigating committee believing that the APP
praiser's whole time 10 needed In the discharge
OF his duty to the Government. The letter
| addressed by Secretary Gage to President
Mckinley on the subject and approved by the
| President follows:
II have the honor to submit herewith brief
synopsis OF the report OF the commission ap-
pointed to examine into certain com plants
and charges against the Appraiser OF Customs
in New York. which has been completed and
nled in this department. The report approves
the Appraiser as an honest and capable of1icer.
possessed OF courage and Jealous In the en-
forcement OF the law. 1t however finds:
Il. That in the complaints concerning the
! embroideries cases there was good ground for
the allegations OF discrimination. and that the
charges made were fairly sustained.
80. 1t finds that the charge OF undue delays
in Appraisement was justified By the facts
brought out.
"3. 1t finds that in certain cases the effort OF
| the Appraiser to ascertain values OF goods in
| the markets. from whence they were i'm ported
by taking prices In the United States as basis
OF valuation was not conformable to the
| statutes. since. in tho opinion OF the commits
sion. the foreign market value OF goods 80
treated was ascertanable.
4. The charges made by certain i'm porters
OF tobacco the commission finds that the i'm
portsrs had. in the cases complained OF. Just
cause Of complaint. In that the goods were in
| jured-in instances destroyed by careless
handling and that. In the opinion OF the com
mission. too many OF such goods have been
| ordered into the public stores for examina-
| ton.
1t finds that the complaints OF certain i'm
porters OF nursery stock were justified In that
| exceptions we're delayed and the goods i'm
ported suffered moro or less injury thereirom
1t finds that Assistant Appraiser Sherwood
| was guilty OF showing invoices OF certain mer-
| chants to their rival importers. and recon-
| mends his removal. 1t distinctly exonerates
| tho Appraiser.
Tho commission reports. as part OF It's
| findings concerning the Appraisers office.
| that. 1t cannot reasonably be expected that the
head Of the office will keep informed OF all the
| detail involved in the ascertain ent OF dutia-
BILE values. and in the advisory classification
as to rates. In rare instances are
| invoices submitted to him. excapt when ad-
! vanced In value. No appraiser can altogether
| escape criticism II his duties be performed in
strict conformity with Treasury laws and
| rules: and upon points about which the best
| legal minds differ controversy and criticism
| are likely to result
las to the Appraiser himself: He is in the
prime OF life. and enjoys perfect health. He is
able. energetic and has boon literally edu-
| Gated. There is a condition Of affairs in some
divisions of the Appraisers stores which
might easily induce the conclusion that
| the present Appraiser does not possess good
executive ability. Possibly the fact that each
division Is to some extent>independent. BY
reason OF the system under which assistant
appraisers are appointed. should have weight
In passing judgment. We have said that tho
Appraiser 10 energetic. We should also add
that. In our judgment. his fondness for intro
ducng new Systems has sometimes been in
dulRed without carefully considering expense
and the benefits to be derived.
In the opinion OF the com mission his con-
necton with the Tariff League is not preIudcial
to his official duties. without deciding that
question. tho report concludes: 1t Is certain
that the man who discharges the duties OF
Appraiser at the Port OF New York. II success.
mendation. will have little time to devote to
affairs other than those related to that high
Office
Tho Appraiser. to whom the report OF the
commission has been shown. traverses the
same at some length. He denies that any in
territorial Determinations have taken place.
but admits that Inconsistencies In valuations
may have occurred Satisfied Of gross and
sweeping undervauations in lace embrod-
cries. 1t was not easy to locate the abuse or de-
termine precisely the extent Of it. He claims
that through the action takenby him under
valuations In these goods have been largely
corrected to the bensnt OF the revenue
and to the advantage OF honest importers.
He admits vexatious delays in appraising
goods but pleads that thsse were beyond any
ones control in some cases. and against his
explicit orders in other cases. He submits q
table showing delays in delivering goods to
tho public stores. occasioned largely by violent
storms, such delays ranging from four to
forty-fve days. Against the third finding OF
the commission that his method Of ascertain
ing values In certain cases was not conform
able to the laws and rules. he makes plea OF
legal justification. the time. conditions and
circum stances considered
And thus. with many words OF explanation
or denial. he seeks to rebuff or modify the con-
illusions OF the commission. so far as those con-
illusions are unfavorable to his Official record
do not think 1t necessary to trouble you with
the many particulars. Tho report OF the COM
mission goes to show that the Appraiser is an
honest. capable. energetic and jealous officer.
1t would appear, however. that in GER
tain matters. which were tho subject OF
investigation. he failed to show the qualities OF
prudence. tact and discretion that were to be
desired. 1t Is not i'm possible that the troubles
and complaints. which appear to be due tso far
as they are iustined to the failure on his part
to exercise these commendable qualities. will
operate to beEet greater prudence and care
in future administration. Certain It is that
the positive qualities with which no Is accred-
tied by the commission. and which he well H.
Illustrated in his general administration are
most necessary in the Appraiser OF great port
OF entry like New York.
Il do not hesitate to recommend that no be
continued in his honorable office. and agree
with the commissions report in thinking II