The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-16
THE BARGE OFFICE ENQUIRY.
solicitor O'ConneH Completes His
Report on the Charges.

Solicitor OConnell Of the Treasury De-
partment, has completed his report on
the work of the committee which en-
CURED into the conduct of the barge Of
fee at New York. 1t was charged that
the officials of the immigrant station
were guilty of systematic bribery, and of
brutality to the women who landed there.
! After taking an immense amount of testi-
mony the committee appointed last spring
to look into the matter found that the
charges were sustained The report was
not made public. but was turned over to
Solicitor O'Connell TO be reviewed by him.
He has completed the task and his opin-
ion has been handed to Secretary Gage
In it the Solicitor sets forth the opinion
that the evidence taken by the committee
was not sufficient to sustain the findings
against the officials in the barge office.
Secretary Gage. having a report from
two points of view on the testimony taken
by the investigating committee and also
having the exhibits offered in evidence,
has turned the whole matter over to Com
missioner Powderly. OF the immigration
Bureau. Mr.. Powderly is authorized to
take whatever action he sees fit. If he
suspends Assistant Commissioner Edward
f. Insolvency. and the dozen employees of
the barge office who were recommended
for discharge by the committee it will be
because he believes them guilty and be-
cause he will be held responsible for
them in the future.
Assistant Secretary Taylor, who since
the report OF the investigating committee
was made, has had the matter in charge,
is in Canada on fishing trip and Mr..
Powderly has full authority to act in his
absence. Before Mr.. Taylor left for Can
ada Solicitor O'Ccnrell handed him his re-
m hn nviH Mr X-ln m
Immediately to Secretary Gage.
On August 4. just as Mr. Powderly was
leaving Washington to Join Mr.. Taylor in
Canada. where the two officials went TO
look into immigration matters, Secretary
Gage sent all the reports testimony, and
exhibits to Mr.. Powderly with a letter
asking him TO look into the case. 1t was
too late for Mr.. Pcwderiy TO go over the
papers before leaving the city, and he
took them up on his return Tuesday.
The investigation was suggested by Sec
rotary Gage last winter, on account of the
discovery that his order for the deporta-
ton of an italian named Gratziano had
been ignored by the barge Office officials
The enquiry lasted for two months in
New York last spring. when the committee
examined over 100 witnesses in star cham
Der.
The report was made early in June. and
office officials were OF the most grave char
acter, it was deemed advisable by Secre-
tary Gage not to have them made public
The Secretary sent the report and the
papers in the case 10 the Solicitor OF the
Treasury, who was asked to go over them
and report in the matter. Mr.. O'Connell
has Just completed that task
The report of the committee recon-
mended the discharge of the following EN-
ployes OF the barge office: Assistant Com
missioner Edward F. Insolvency., John Led
erhilger. Thomas p Brennan. Thomas
Burke, Emil Auspitz, Frank p. Mcdonnell,
A. A. Vanderhoef, John N. Kilroy j. Ross
Stewart, Carl E. Kumpff Albert Wank,
and Legal Adviser Lorenzo Ullo.
Mr.. Powderly believes that every one
of these men should be discharged for the
good of the service. He believes that the
charges made In the report are substan-
tiated by the evidence taken by the in
vestigating committee
Secretary Cages circular. number III,
issued November 49, 1899, is document