Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-07-03

introduced q resolution proposing the
investigating.
Washington, July IA. Piatt An
drews today rendered his resignation
to President Taft, as assistant secre-
tary Of the treasury.
In a spirited letter to the president.
Mr.. Andrew writes Of conditions In the
department alleged to be due to the
attitude of Secretary MacVeagh toward
many Of his subordinates. The letter
charges that subordinates In the de-
partment have been hampered ana
discouraged by Secretary MacVeashs
idiosyncracies and his incapacity for
decision" 1t contains o scathing ar
raignment of the sscretary's admins
tration of the government affairs and
has created a sensation in official
circles.
Cites othsrs to Provo contsntions.
One portion Of Andrews letter is
susceptible Of being interpreted to the
effect that other high officials In the
treasury department are dissatisfied
with Secretary MacVeagh's treatment
Of them. ~
For further evidence Of the peculiar
difficulties which surr6hhds the hand
ling Of the business Of the department,
he suggests that President Taft con-
suit Lawrence O. Murray. comptroler
OF the currency; Lee McClung. treas
urer Of the United States; Joseph
Ralph. director Of the bursautscf en-
craving and printing; Ckarlss A. Kram
auditor for the postofdce: Royal e
Cabell. commissiohereof internal rev.
enue; James Knox Taylor. former sup-
ervising architect: and Charles D. Nor
ton, Mr.. Andrews predecessor and
former secretary to the president.
Maevsash Came Near Quitting.
Mr.. Andrews letter to Secretary
Macveagh advising him Of the resig-
nation, disclosed the hitherto unpub-
lished fact that MacVeagh was on the
verge Of leaving the cabinet in Decem-
Der, 1910. In one part the letter said:
"You can not forget how I stood by
you when you were on the point OF hav-
ing taken from your hands what was
perhaps the most important undertak-
ing in your administration. In Decem-
Der, 1910, when the White House en-
tered into negotiations for the sale OF
Panama bonds. the embarrassment OF
the situation threatened to force your
resignation. You remember did every
thing in my power to save you the
humiliation and offered to resign II
your resignation became necessary.
Tells President Of Conditions.
The letter to the president says in
part:
"I deem it proper to acquaint you
with conditions which have existed In
the treasury for the last two years at
least, and which are of grave concern
not sonly to every official Of the treas
ury but also to the many thousands
.thruout the country who have business
to conduct with this department.
"For a long time the transaction of
much Of the business has been at a
standstill and an outbreak Of some sort
has been Imminent. Many able and
energetic officials have had to bear the
brunt of harsh criticism from people
outside who have suffered inter-
midiable delays in their business with
the treasury for which the secretary
alone was responsible. and at the same
time they have had to submit to criti-
cism even more harsh and more un-
deserved from Mr.. Macveagh himself
whenever he discovered that they had
w.
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 entrusted to them and
have been discouraged to the verge Of
resisning their positions because they
were unable to obtain any opinion or
decision from Mr.. MacVeagh upon
urgent questions which could have
been before him for many months. At
the same time they have been in
variably reproached by him for such
limited action as they may have been
compelled to take on their own respon-
sibility.
: Says Maevsash's Mind 10 Abnormal.
: Mr.. Macveagh's mental attitude IL
difficult to realize by those who have
not had intimate everyday experience
with It. Toward many Of the officials
he has from time to time displayed an
aversion. suspicion and distress which,
In view Of the fact that these officials
were men Of his own choosing. would
seem inexplicable In man Of normal
mind. For many months at . time he
has persistently refused even to speak
70 those officials Of those departments
with whom he should naturally have
been in constant personal communica-
tion.
aWhen Mr. Hillcs was assistant Sec
rctary Of the treasury there was at
least one period amounting to several
weeks during which Mr.. Macvea4h re-
p.,snA -, have my re1atiOnn v}fhs him