The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-04-05
SHAW BACK IN WASHINGTON.
HID SEVERAL TALKS WITH TIE
PRESIDENT IN CHICAGO. .

Desou>aeA The CSntempaate1 Removal -
Assistant Treasurer wtIliams and the
Cnsrgcs Against Csilecter Nixon
ITO secretsry's Policy Ipdsrsod.
WARRINGTON, April 4.-Secretary Shaw
returned TO Washington tonight At about
dinner time on . belated train from CHI
cago. and an hour later was hard at work
In bis once In the Treasury. going through
huge batch OF accumulated mail. He bad
not been on dock long before group OF
newspaper men arrived to talk TO him about
the report published this morning 10 the
effect that President Roosevelt had recently
rebuked him severely for his radical policy
Of removing old and trusted Treasury
officials. shaking up the personnel Of the
customs service in New York. Chicago and
elsewhere. and his general policy Of keeping
things stirred up In the Treasury Depart
ment.
Secretary Shaw had two or three talks
with the President while In Chicago and
remained there day or two longer than
he had intended, for the purpose Of talk
ing over the contemplated removal Of
Assistant Treasurer Williams and tho
charges against Collector Nixon's manage
ment Of the customs Office. which are under
investigation at the Treasury Department.
Just before starting West. President Rooee-
welt talked over these matters with the
Illinois Senators, and the statement WINS
made at that time that Mr.. Williams was
hooked for removal.
The Treasury Department had been for
some time examining Q charge that MIR.
Williams had careleesly or otherwise per-
mitted sone misleading bookkeeping In the
Assistant Treasurers office TO 60 uncor-
rected, but the most serious charges against
Mr.. Williams grew out OF the statements
that he had attempted to defeat the election
Of Mr. Hopkins to the Senate In the interest
Of Democrat. II is said now that II MIR.
Wiliams's removal Ii finally decided upon.
II will be because Of matters that have no
bearing upon the political situation.
The Investigation as 70 the loose book
keeping In the Assistant Treasurers ONCE
was conducted while Mr.. Shaw was in the
South and he had no knowledge OF the
details OF the case.
So far as the removal OF Assistant Secre-
tary Spaulding and Supervising Inspeotor-
General Dumont Of the Steamboat In.
OF the Customs Division johnson and the
general shake-up and transfer which took
place In that Office are concerned, II IL
learned that President Roosevelt not
only indorscd the policy Of Secretary Shaw
approved OF each specific change made.
and that he has more than onoc TAKEN occa-
sion to congratulate the SECRETARY for
bringing about the changs without frio-
ton and without causing III feeling among
the personal and political friends OF the
officials reduced or removed.
As regards the case Of Assistant Ap..
praiser George Robinson, II Ia true that
charges made against him by Wilbur +.
Wakeman are being investigated, but
the charges are not q kind That reflect
on his Official or personal integrity
They are being locked into merely on tho
general thee ry that statements made by q
reputable citizen against the standing OF
any Government olilcial are entitled 70
consideration.
Secretary Shaw contemplates further
changes in tho personnel OF the various
branches of the Treasury, and " removals
Is understood, have the cordial Endorsement
OF President Roosevelt.