Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1901-12-26
MACLAY OUSTEO,
President Roosevelt Exercised His
Prerogatives in Present
Instance.
VERY PlTHY INSTRUCTIONS
mitting the Presidents Orders
Held That Maclay is Aware Of the
Reasons For Which His Resig-
nation Was Demanded.

Washington, Dec 2l-Secretary Long,
has discharged Edgar Stanton Maclay
from his position as a skilled laborer in
the Brooklyn navy yard. Mr. .Maclay hav-
ing refused to resign when requested to
dc so. Mr. Maclay is author Of a naval
history and in it's last volume sharply
criticised Admiral Schley and denount ed
him as a caittf, poltroon and coward.
secretary Longs action was taken by
direction OF the President and followed II
conference between the President and the
secretary, who took to the White House
with him a letter from Maclay in response
to the request for his resignation sent by
the secretary last Saturday. In this let
ter Maclay submitted that he could not
be removed or be compelled % resign with
out definite charges being made
against him and without having an OPP
portunity 10 answer those charges. Al
though the civil service rules give employ
eS OF the public service the opportunity
of answering charges that may be prefer
red against them, the President exercised
his preroEativcs in the present instance
and directed Maclay's removal, it being
held that the latter was aware unofficially.
If not officially. of the reason which actu-
ated the executive in taking the cours.
determined upon.
Secretary Long said the action taken TO-
day would dispose of the case finally.
MIR. MaclaY's letter to Secretary Long
replying to the request for his resignation
is as follows:
Navy Yard. New York.
Ofioe of the General store elIepers,
December %. 1901.
Rear Admiral Albert S. Barker. l.. 5. n:
Sir:-I have the honor of acknowledging
the receipt of your communication of this
date in which YOU forward the following:
of this date from the honorable secretary
of the treasury:
II am directed by tho President to ask
Edgar :. MlclaY, special laborer general
store keepers office, navy yard, New York
to send in his resignation
] respectfully submit that | was regu-
larlN appointed to my present position al
ter having duly passed a clerks examina-
ton in accordance with all the require
ments of the civil service regulati tions. and
therefore cannot be removed or be COM
lelled TO resign without dfnite charges
being made against me and without hay
Ing an opportunity to answer those
charges. | have been III this Office hf-
teen months. have been promoted for cf-
fciency, and so far as | know. my work
has been satisfactory to my superiors. |
have violated no rules or regulations of
this office or of the navy yard. SO far as
] am aware.
such being the case. l fecl that It
would not only be ar injustice to myself
to resign uncer sl,cl circumstances. but
1t would be establishing q precedent that
Ntally concerns thousands of civil ser~ic.
employees both national AID state.
Very respect fully yours,
EDGAR $. MACLAY
Secretary Longs despatch to Rear Nd
nlru Barker directing Macay'a removal
was as follows:
Washington. Dec. "a
TO Rear admiral A. S. Barker /. ) y,
CO mmanS ant navy yard. New York.
~. g,F ~, To-.
Maclay is discharged. Notify him.
LONG