Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-07-04
A. Piatt Andrew, Deputy in
Treasury Department, in
Resigning Post Bitterly
Attacks Chief Of Bureau.
INCAPACITY HAS
DEMORALIZED WORK
Astounding Capacity for
Indecision'' and Snubbing
Subordinates Other In
dictments Brought.

Andrew today rendered his resigna-
ton to President Taft as assistant sec
retary Of the treasury
In spirited letter to the president,
Mr. Andrew writes of conditions In
the treasury department which are al
legged to be due to the attitude OF
Secretary MacVeagh toward many OF
his subordinates.
Assistant Secretary Andrews letter
OF resignation charges that subordin-
ates in the treasury department have
been hampered and discouraged at
every turn by Secretary MacVeagh's
idiosynacracies and his incapacity for
decision" 1t contains a scathing ar
raignment Of Secretary MacVeagh
administration Of the government
affairs" and created a profound sensa-
ton in official circles.
Other Officials Dissatisficd7
One portion Of Andrews letter to
the president Is susceptible Of being
interpreted to the effect that other
high officials In the treasury depart
ment are dissatisfied with Secretary
MacVeaghs treatment OF them.
For further evidence OF the pecu.
liar difhculties which surrounds the
handling of business In the, treasuryn
he suggests that President Taft consult
Lawrence o. Murray. comptroller OF
the currency, Lee McClung, treasurer
|of the United States; Joseph e. Ralph,
director Of the bureau of engraving
and printing; Charles A. Kram, audi
tor for the post ONCE: Royal E. Cabel.
commissioner of internal revenue,
James Knox Taylor, former supervis-
ing architect, and Charles D. Norton.
Mr.. Andrews predecessor and former
secretary to the president.
MacVeagh Once Near ResIqnina.
Mr.. Andrews letter to Secretary
MacVeagh, advising him OF the resigna-
ton discloses the hitherto unpublished
fact that Mr.. MacVeagh was on the
verge Of leaving the cabinetsin Decem-
Der, 1910. In one part the letter says 4
"You cannot forget how ! stood by
you when you were on the point OF
having taken from your hands what
probably was the most important un-
dertaking of your administration.
When the white house in December
1870 without consulting with you, and
entirely without your knowledge, en-.
tered into negotiations for an issue of
Panama bonds, the embarrassment Of
the situation threatened to force your
resignation. You will remember that
did every thing in my power to avert
your humiliation and that Loyalty
agreed to resign and leave the service
with you II your resignation became
necessary"
Letter to Taft Assalis Macveaeh.
DR.. Andrews letter to the president
says In part:
I'm presenting my resignation Of the
office with which you have favored
me, 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 only to every official of the treas
|ury but also to the many thousands
throughout the country who have
business to conduct with this depart
ment.
For long time the transaction Of
much OF the treasurys business has
been at standstill and an outbreak
Of some sort has been imminent. Many
able and energetic treasury officials
have had to bear the brunt Of harsh
criticism from people outside who
have suffered interminable delays In
their business with the treasury, for
sible and at the same time they have
had to submit to criticism even more
harsh and more undeserved from Mr..
Macveagh himself whenever he dis
covered 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 en-.
trusted to them and have been dis
couraged to the verge of resigning
their positions because they were un-
able to obtain any opinion or decision
from Mr.. Macevagh upon urgent ques-
|tions which could have been before
him for many months. At the same
time they have invariably been re-
preached by him for such limited ac-
|tion as they may have been compelled
to take on their own responsibility.
Macveagh snubbed Associates.
"Mr. MacVeagh's mental attitude IL
difficult to realize by those who have
mot been in intimate, every day ex-
lperience with it. Toward many OF tns
higher treasury officials he has from