New-York tribune., 1901-08-02
MR.. WAKEMAN'S DEFENCE
HE ANSWERS COMPLAINTS OF MER-
CHANTS-GUSTAV III. SCHWAB WITH
DRAWS HIS PROTEST.
IBy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.l


Washington, Aug 1.-Appraiser Wilbur +.
Wakeman's answer to the charges filed against
him at the Treasury Department last week by
merchants of the New-York Board of Trade
and Transportation and the Crockery Board OF
Trade was made public by Secretary Gage to-
day The complaint accused the appraiser OF
making appointments and transfers in his Office
'at variance with the law, which certainly men
aced the integrity of it's administration" The
chief points of Mr. Wakemans defence are as
follows:
the attention OF the department to the following:
The internal evidence presented by the state.
customs. probably connected with this office, must
have been active in furnishing information to SAID
petitioners or to the person or persons VINO pre-
The petition is unsupported by any evidence. and
called upon to answer every complaint which may
At least sisner of said petition, whose rep rep
hes i appeared before the department EN- sai5
signature standing before the department TINS s.
stand ready to report on If called upon by the
department.
The appraiser relates how he showed the de-
partment. early in June the urgent necessity of
-FOUR additional examiners the piers in charge
or personal baggage, declared that it would be
dangerous to assign inexperienced men to the
personal baggage piers during the busy season.
and urged that the most experienced employees
VINO could handle the work promptly and eft-
ciently should fill the places. He then asked au-
thority to nominate for three months or until
the eligible list established, four additional
examiners 10 take the places of the four whom
he wished to transfer to the busy personal bag
gage docks. This granted. and the trans
fers and appointments were made. Mr. Wake
man then says:
1t may occur TO that this is violation OF
the customs laws and regulations but It does not hot
seem to me that ought TO be required to assign
inexperienced examiners the docks to examine
personal baggage il il would result in severe crl-
cism OF this office and the customs service gen
tant that this work should be done well, ana that
every passenger arriving should have every cour-
teSy extended consistent with the law, rules ana
regulations. and at the time service should
be In such shape that the Will be protected
Mr.. Wakeman reports the qualifications
of the temporary employees regarding whom the
complaints were made and gives his reasons
Tor the transfers. citing recommendations OF the
men made by importers.
In conclusion the appraiser emphasizes the
fact that complaint criticism has been
made to him to the character quality of
the work performed by Mcdonald. Phelps and
Grove. examiners. and that the removal of Levy
another examiner against whom charges are
pending. has been recommended.
Secretary Gage has received from Gustav II.
Schwab of New-York, who signed the original
complaint. letter Withdraw wing his protest and
saying that he now feels that the changes made
by the appraiser were for the best interests of
the service. Mr. Schwab is chairman OF the
committee on foreign commerce of the Cham
Der OF Commerce of New-York.