The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-11
A REPLY TO WAKEMAN.
Exceptions Taken to the New York
Appraisers Defence.

NEW YORK. Aug. 1O.-John NJ Peters.
Chairman ot-the Committee on Customs
Administrative Act of the New York
Board of Trade and Transportation, has
fCrwa rded to Washington a letter in re-
ply to the explanations of Wilbur F.
Wakeman. appraiser of the port, to
charges against his administration. The
attention of the Treasury Department is
called to the fact thai while a number Of
paragraphs in Mr.. Wakeman's statement
seem to us wholly irrelevant, we feel
called upon to reply to them. The
appraiser charges that at least one of
the sisners OF the petition, whose repre-
sentative appeared before the department,
has been guilty Of practices which should
not give said signature any standing be
fore the department
The very serious nature of this charge
compels US respectfully to insist that the
appraiser be called upon to furnish the
report watch he stated he is ready to fur
nish concerning the alleged offences, to-
sether with the names of the offenders,
and that such report he given the same
publicity as has been given to the ale
cations Of the appraiser AS they now
stand these allegations reflect upon every
| house represented at the hearing to which
| reference is made. and we trust that the
/ department viii appreciate the unfairness
! of permitting reputable concerns to re-
main under the implied charge Of being
/ invoiv cd in practices calculated to forfeit
{ its confidence"
| The letter goes on to review the work
| accomplished IN the appraiser stores and
! on the docks, and in conclusion says:
! We believe that an increase in the
! force of dock eX3miT erS Is desirable, and
We have long urged the neCe ssity for more
.a.,y4l Nfs,.s- ut he
/ the eXieencies OF the services justify an
amelioration of the vexations and annoy
auces Of the incomii passenger at the
{ expense of any addition to the burdens
] of the mercantile community we cannot
! believe the departm- VIII contend.
This subject, presented by your pc
| titioners. has been unaffected by any polit-
/ ical bias. and we regret that the appraiser
! has deemed it necessary to call to the as
! sistance Of his defence the influence OF an
! ex-Cabinet officer who has no personal
knowledge of the subject, and is uufa-
miliar with the work performed in the APP
praisers department. We have no ap-
pointments to recommend, nor do we ask
for the retention OF any examiner, how
ever well qualified he may be in other re-
] Specis. II he has been found wanting In in
/ tesrity, although we may be permitted to
suggest that such shprtcoming were bet
/ ter met by dismissal from the service than
] by transfer But whatever disposition the
department may see fit to make in such
cases or whatever changes IT may feel JUS
! titled in making for the good Of the SER
( vice we respectfully urge that in filling
! vacancies by transfer or appointment il
| give due heed to the clear intent of the
! law as explicitly stated in section 300
! This plea for the efficiency and integrity
Of the customs service, whicl is vouch-
safed by the statutes, is the whole purpose
{ of our contention"
/ The letter is signed also by the other
! members Of the committee. as follows:
1 Simon Rachs d Co, Theodore Morris &
I Bro. Holbrook Brothers. George Borgtiiet
, & Co, Jacob Adler. Schwartz Schiller &
/ Co, Louis Meyer * Co. and Lazarus.
Resented * Lehman.