New-York tribune., 1901-12-21
WAKElLAN'.s LETTER TO GAGE
HE MAKES PUBLIC HIS REASONS FOR
REFUSING TO RESIGN.

Aruraiser Wilbur F. Wakeman learned OF his re-
,noval by seeing it in the newspapers. At O'Clock
he called up Secretary Gage in Washington on the
reiephone and the following conversation Is re-
ported 10 have taken place:
Mr.. Wakeman-Mr- Secretary. is i uue lha' l
have been removed?
Secretary Ciage-Yes.
Mr. Wakemau-As private citizen 1 assume that
I an a liberty to make public my letter TO you
Secretary Gage-You are the best judge as 10
that
Mr.. wakenan-Do you personally object TO my
releasing the letter here?
Secretary Gage-No.
mr.. wakeman-Then I shall release 1T tonight
The Appraisers letter, in effect, says thaI IN
numerous instances he has not been supported
when he he's tried uproot wrongdolng IN lae
Appraisers office; that no greater Ifauos upon lII0
revenue have been discovered than those IN CON
nection with recent Japanese silk fmportauohs anu
that in investigating these he was hampered 6y ON
rials in the Treasury Department. He declares ne
,.o,ld welcome the fullest investigation OF MS ONCE
fy a competent commission
The Apprsiser sent q copy of his letter TO the
serretarv "a President Roosevelt with note say
tre that he hoped it would not be deemed lhoeeo-
T,s on -te mart of himself CTahemaTo to send the
President a copy.
NJ Waterman in his letter, which contains about
+ventv-four hundred words. contends that his res
;eration would be an admission on his part lhat
1s official administration had not In every respect
been honest and efficient He says that unoer oa'e
f SepteT7ber 1893: You did me the honor 10 rec
onarnend my continuance IL this office; ana llal
when had the honor of a personal interview with
vo1l on November %. you said, Mr.. Nakenan' you
have certainly accomplished great results In def
erence to the opinion thus expressed l DO not see
nv way clear to resign
His resignation this time, he says, would be an
set Of ingratitude the Congressman VINO nave
Endorsed the administration of the Appraisers Of
fee and an act Of ingratitude and discourtesy 10
the three thousand manufacturers importers meF-
chants and bankers who only recently petiuoheo
the President to retain the Appraiser in ONCE
Then Mr.. Wakenan cites his recommendation
cor,nIed with that of the Whitehead Commission.
that Assistant Appraiser Warner sherwood De o1s-
missed You will remember" he says addressing
Secretary Gage) that you told me that Mr.. Sher-
wood should be removed. hut afterward you wrote
g personal letter TO mutual friend with authority
to show il to me which said. in effect, that you
had decided otherwise because of the friction which
would arise in the department on account of the
personal opposition Of Assistant Secretary Spauld-
fng 10 the removal of said Sherwood
He saws his resignation would be tacit indorse-
rnent Of Assistant Secretary O. l.. Spauding, whom
ne does not indorse. and that 1t would he tanta-
mount tribute 10 undertaking. importers. He
ADDS that IL TO him unfortunate, at least,
that confidential messages refusing him an audi
ence with the head OF the Treasury Department
should be given to the press thus causing great
embarrassment to his administration and encour-
-sging characterization in the department
IT beg call your attention. says the Ap-
praiser. Ito the statement OF former Secretary
of the Treasury the effect that the customs
Jaws were defeated at the Port os New-York to the
extent Of over S40oo0.9ao a year. I have tried 10
reduce the undervaluations thus referred TO. and
! specifically refer to the cases known the st.
Gall cases tobacco cases fancy cotton
cases Japanese silk cases. elastic braid
cases. automobile cases. china cases and
coal tar cases, in connection with which the
revenue has been increased by millions of dollars
year under my administration"
Mr.. Wakeman regrets the abolishment OF the
position OF counsel 10 the Appraiser after the Sec
TetaTys promise TO him 0he Appraiser that the
place should be continued.
Mr. Wakemans fourteenth reason for not re
signing is a follows
Fourteenth-My resignation would imply nv in
oorsement Of the policy OF the department indi-
Gated by its action of May q 1901 regarding the
reinstatement Of clerk in this office who had
been removed on account OF habitual intoxication
wherein the department directed 10 recommend
The reinstatement of the person referred TO In
regard 10 this case the department under date of
May z, 1900 in part SAYS -
Tie habitual use Of intoxicating beverages m
excess is looked upon by this office as disess
and VIII be treated such. When a dismissai
takes place for this IL is because the person
dismissed has become inefficient in and incompe-