The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-12-25
MACLAY IS DISCHARGED.
LONG TAKES ACTION BY DIREC-
 TION OF THE PRESIDEN7.
Notifying Him of the Fact-Maciay's Letter Declaring That He Could Not be Compelled to Resign Without Definite Charges Made Public.

Washington, Dec. 24.-Secretary Long has discharged Edgar Stanton Maclay from his position as a skilled laborer in the Brooklyn navy yard, MT, Maclay having refused to resign when request naval history, and in it's last volume he sharply criticised Admiral Schley aid denounced him as catiff, poltroon and coward.
 Secretary Longs action was taken by direction of the president and followed 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 resigna- ton sent by the secretary last Satur- day.
 In this letter Maclay submitted that he could not be removed or be compell- ed to resign without definite charges being made against him and without having an opportunity to answer those charges.
 Although the civil service rules give employees of the public service the op- portunity of answering charges that may be preferred against them, the president exercised his prerogatives in the present instance and directed Mac lays removal, it being held that the latter was aware unofficially, if not off cially, of the reasons which actuated the executive in taking the course de- termined upon. Secretary Long said that action taken to-day would dispose of the case finally.
 MT. Maclays letter to Secretary Long, tl,,, ,sep i0,n ton, is as follows:
 Navy Yard, New York,
 "Office of the General Storekeeper,
 December 23, 1901. "Rear-Admiral Albert s, Barker, U. $.
 N, Commandant Navy Yard, New
 York:
 "Sir-I have the honor of acknowl- edging the receipt of your communica- tion of this date in which you forward- ed the following communication of this date from the honorable secretary of the navy:
 "I am directed by the president to ask Edgar S. Maclay, special laborer. general storekeepers office, navy yard, New York, to send iRShis resignation T respectfully submit that I was reg ularly appointed to my present position after having duly passed a clerks ex- animation in accordance with all the requirements of the civil service resu- lations, and therefore cannot be re- moved or be compelled to resign with out definite charges being made against me and without having an opportunity to answer those charges. I have been in this office fifteen months, have been promoted for efficiency, and, so far as I know, my work has been satisfactory to my superiors. l have violated no rules or regulations of this office of the navy ward, so far as I am aware. ''Such being the case, I feel that it would not only be an injustice to myself to resign under such circumstances, but it would be establishing precedent that vitally concerns thousands of civil service employees, both national and state. Very respectfully yours,
 Edgar S. Maclay." Secretary Longs dispatch to Rear | Admiral Barker, directing Maclay's re- moval was as follows:
 Washington, Dec. "A. "To Rear Admiral A. $. Barker, U. s. | N, Cammandant Navy Yard, New York: By direction of the president Edgar | s. Maclay is discharged. Notify him.
 Long"