The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-07-04


their regreat caused by the resignation
Of the popular Assistant Secretary.
In view Of the above facts DR.. Andrews
letter TO the President Is regarded as
voicing the silent protests OF all those
named against the MacVeagh adminlstra-
ton. These oficials VIII be calico upon
TO appear before Congress and describe
the conditions that led 10 Andrews resig-
nation. in case the Cox resolution passes,
even though the President stands by his
Secretary without accepting DR.. Andrew
challenge TO call the ofhcials before him
for personal investigation.
Following is the letter sent to President
Taft by DR.. Andrews:
Business Mt standstIn.
Dear Mr.. President: In present.
ing my resignation Of the once with
which you have favored me, I deem
it proper to acquaint you with con-
ditions which have existed in the
Treasury for the last two years at least,
and which are OF grave concern not only
to every oficial of the Treasury, but also
TO the many thousands throughout the
country who have business 10 conduct
with this department.
For a long time the transaction Of
much Of the Treasury's business has
been at a standstin and an outbreak OF
some sort has been imminent. Many able
and energetic Treasury officials have
had to bear the brunt OF harsh criti-
cism from people outside who have SUI
fered interminable delays in their BUSH
ness with the Treasury, for which the
Secretary alone was responsible, and at
the same time they have had to submit
TO criticism even more harsh and more
undeserved from Mr.. MacVeagh him
self whenever he discovered that they
had ventured TO act upon some matter
Of minor importance without awaiting
his decision. Time and again heads Of
the great divisions OF the Treasury have
found themselves unable TO carry on the
business intrusted to them and have
been discouraged to the verge OF resign
ing their positions because they were
unable TO obtain any opinion or decision
from Mr.. MacVeagh upon urgent ques-
tons which had been before him for
many months.
'Mr. MacVeagh's' mental attitude Is
difficult to realize by those who have
not had intimate everyday experience
with It. Toward many of the higher
Treasury officials he has from time to
time displayed an aversion, suspicion,
and distrust which. in view Of the fact
that these officials were men Of his own
choice, would seem inexplicable in man
OF norman ulllQ. OF many LIlOLLua a.
a time he has persistently refused even
to speak to those officials Of his depart
ment with whom he should naturally
have been In constant personal COM
munIcation.
I have sent him hundreds Of letters
and memoranda asking a decision in re-
gard to matters urgently pending. on
very rare occasions 1 have received a
reply within n short time; in few
cases the reply has come only after the
lapse OF a month; In many cases only
after a lapse Of several months (when
not infrequently the matters had al
ready settled themselves); but in the
majority OF cases have received no
reply at all. Yet, like the other officials
mentioned, who have been refused any
opportunity for personal conference, 1
have been promptly criticised for any
decision made or action taken.
The conduct Of business in a depart
ment under such conditions is. Of course
impossible. The energetic young men
whom Mr.. MacVeagh was wise enough
to select as heads OF the various divis-
ions have been hampered and discour-
aged at every turn by his idiOsycrasies,
his astounding capacity for prOcrasti-
nation, his incapacity for decision, and
the peculiar moods OF suspicion and
aversion to which he is constantly sub
ject.
Dozens Of Instances could be cited
where the public business has been Sc
ricusly interfered with, important IN
dertakings checked, and Treasury on
Gals have been utterly disheartened by
his opposition to a policy which he has
persisted in on no other ground than an
unreasoning aversion to the person who
advocated or proposed II. 1t has been
well understood in the Treasury that
advocacy Of a proposition by certain Of
ficials was. sure TO arouse Mr. Mac
Veagh's opposition to 1t.
IF you wish for further evidence as
to the peculiar difficulties which sur
round the handling OF business in the
Treasury, I venture to suggest that you
ask Mr.. Lawrence o. Murray, the Comp
troIler Of the Currency. or Mr.. Joseph
E. Ralph, the director OF the Bureau Of
Engraving and Printing, or Mr.. Lee
McClung, the Treasurer Of the United
States, or M Charles A. Kram, the
auditor for the Postoffice Department,
or Mr. Royal z. Cabell. the Commis-
sioner OF Internal Revenue, or Mr.. James
Knox Taylor, the supervising architect,
or my distinguished predecessor in once,
Mr.. Charles D. Norton.
For the foregoing reasons, whereby
the transaction OF all business pertaining
10 my Office has become practically i'm
possible, i beg with infinite regret to
place my resignation as Assistant Sec
rotary OF the Treasury in your hands.
Yours sincerely.
"A. PIATT ANDREW
Tried 10 Be Loyal.
Dr. Andrews letter to Secretary Mac