The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-03

For many months at a time he has
persistently refused even to speak to
those officials of his department with
whom he should naturally have been
in constant personal communication.
w hen Mr.. HileS was assistant Secre-
tary of treasury there was at least one
period amounting to several weeks
during which Mr.. MacVeagh refused
to have any relations with him.
know there were several longer per-
iods of curiously suspended relations
with Assistant Secretary Norton. Nc
Clung, the treasurer of the U. >. al
firms that he has only been allowed
one short Interview with the secre-
tary during a period covering more
than q year. Ralph, the director OF
the bureau of engraving and printing
has repeatedly complained of similar
treatment of himself and many other
instances could be cited. In my own
case, with an office adjoining and
communicating with that of the sec
retarv the situation probably similar.
Although I have supposedly been the
representative of the secretary in MS
dealings with nineteen different bu-
reaus and divisions of the treasury, L
have not been allowed in the aggre-
gate a total of more than one hours
conversation with him including pr1-
vate interviews and conferences IN the
presence of others. during the ent1re
past year. Meanwhile 1 have sent him
hundreds of letters and memorandums
asking a decision in regard to matters
urgently pending. On very rare oc-
caSions, I have received a reply wlthln
a short time; in a 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 already
settled themselves); but in the major
ity of cases have received no reply
at all. Yet like the other officials
mentioned who have been refused any
opportunity for personal conference
TNf1 fT~if
any decision made or action taken.
Feared a Conspiracy.
"Tbe conduct of business in de-
nartment under such conditions is, of
course impossible. The energetic young
men whom Mr.. MacVeagh was wise
enough to select as heads of the Varl-
ous divisions have been hampered ana
discouraged at every turn by his
idiosvncrasies, his astounding capacity
for crastination, his incapaclty Ior
decision and the peculiar moods OF sus-
nicion and aversion to which he Is
constantly subject Ihere mas nereI
been a time since 1 have been in the
+reas,1rv when he has not labored un-
der the delusion that some OF those
who were working loyalty for MN were
in q cabaI conspiracy against him. rms
has led him to treat some of MS most
llaS n@oian+ aides with harsh ingratitude
and with a lack of consideration thaC
vas little short of brutal.
NV experience in these matters is |
oylx the familiar experience of the
20 ;oritv of treasury officials. Mr.. Nc
CI1+ne the treasurer of the United |
C+ates in April of the present year,
foIInd the delays. indecisions, distrust
and complaints of Mr.. MacVeagh sc !
that he brought the matter |
70 Mr. Hilles' attention in the nope |
that YOU might offer some method OF |
relief.
of engraving and printing. and Mr |
Murray, the comptroller of the cur |
rencv. have on several occasions with |
dif6culty been disSuaded from an inten- |
ton to resign, due to no other reason |
than their lamentably unsatisfactory |
relations with Mr.. MacVeagh. 1t was
onIv on account of their devotion to |
their work and a constant hope that /!
a change in conditions was pending |
that they have not left the public SER |
vice / am told the same is true of |
Mr.. Cabell the commissioner of inter- |
nal revenue and it is doubtless true of |
others.
the transa ctions of all business per- |
tanning to my office has become practi- |
calIy impossible 1 beg with infinite re- |
gret to place my resignation as assist |
ant secretary of the treasury in your |
In his letter to Secretary Macveagh.
the assistant secretary plainly tells his |
chief his reasons for resigning. He says |
in part:
your disposition. methods and point |
of view are such as to render impos-
sible any real cooperation or any sat