The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-10-07
POOR FELLOW.

The administration at Washington is
1t is the collector of customs of Porto
Rico who is in trouble now, and Sec
rotary Shaw is giving out numerous
reasons why the country should not
judge him too severely. 1t is really
wonderful what an innocent and un-
tutored person Collector Cruzen must
be. Leave of absence has been given to
him to come to Washington. apparent
ly, in order that he may receive some
advice about how to conduct himself
in the presence of a wicked world.
He has been warned against ac-
cepting presents from importers,
steamship companies or others who
are liable to come into official relations
with him." Now this is very hard on
Mr.. Cruzen. How could any collector
of customs by his own unassisted men
tai exertions have reached the conclu-
sion that he ought not to accept pres
ents from those who did business with
general adoption of such a rule in the
customs department might cause a
great deal of disturbance and distress.
The special agent who investigated the
case of Mr.. Cruzen was very severe,
and Secretary Shaw is engaged in pal
liating the showing that was made.
Lacking a true sense of humor, he
authorizes as a defense of Mr.. CruZen
the publication of a section from the
special agents report containing these
words: "As to the Irregularities crop
ping out under the present collector, it
is but fair to state that he has not prior
experience whatever in customs af-
fairs, and these seem to have been
made largely, if not altogether, through
lack of experience and tact, and hence
not desgnedly"
Perhaps Secretary Shaw can tell the
country on what grounds and for what
reason such a man was appointed. The
collectorship of customs for Porto Rico
is very important position. Like the
service in all our insular possessions,
it requires the highest grade of ability
and of personal honesty. Dealing with
these half-subject peoples, concerning
whose future the powers that be have
not yet made UP their minds, we ought
honesty and ability that can be EMU
lated. The control of the customs
service of the island of Porto Rico
is place whose occupant should pos
sess the highest qualities demanded by
the public service in marked degree.
Secretary Shaw says of him "he had
no prior experience whatever in GUS
toms affairs" What conceivable de-
Tense is there for appointing to this
post man absolutely without previous
experience in his duties? There is
where the fault of the administration
comes in, and it is not a light one.
Perhaps because it is conscious of this,
1t deals so tenderly with the offender.
1t would seem to the average man that
even a person inexperienced In the
customs service might have some dim
idea Of the improperly of accepting
gifts from importers upon whose bus
mess he had to collect a tax, or from
steamship companies and others "hav-
ing official relations with him." This
idea is not dependent upon experience
in the public service, but REQUIRES SIM
ply the notion of duty common to all
honest men,
In word, Secretary Shaw in his
statement labors hard to prove that
Mr.. Cruzen cannot be a knave because
he is fool. The public will not easily
resist the conclusion that those who
were responsible for the elevation Of
such man to the responsible position
and who now dare to defend him are
both.