The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-04
HURLS BITTER
PARTING SHAFTS
Declares It Impossible to Con
duct Business OF Treasury
Under Present Conditions,
and Makes Vitriolic Attack
on His Superior-Con-
gress Will Investigate.

more than yea.'s standing between
Secretary MacNeagh and Assisian, Sec
rotary \. Platt Andrew eliminated to-
day IN Andrews resignation and a pro-
posa! :or congressional investigation
Of Secretary MacVoaghs admln!s,ra-
ti0n
REPRESENTATIVE Cos. OF ohio. pre-
sentcd @ resolution for such an inves-
tigat!on 10 the House after he had read
Az Andrews letter Of resignation to
President TAFT
Andrews letter to tho President Gre
ated q profound sensation. Ho declared
That energetic young men in the treas
NY had been "hdmpeTed and d!scour-
aged at every turn by Secretar.' Mac
Neagh's idiosyncTacies. his astounding
capacity 70 procastination. his inca
moods OF suspicion and aversion to
witch he IS constantly subject"
Andrew also Informed President Taft
that Lawrence O. M-rray. Comptroller
of the Currency Lee McClung. Treas
urer OF the United States. ana other
high officials OF t7e treasury were prac-
tica!lF unable to transact the business
OF their Offices because Of Secretary
MacVeaghs moods. which Andrew SAYS
would seem incxplicaolc in d man oil
normal mind"
III a long letter to the President. An
drew stated that his predecessor.
Charles D. Norton. later secretary 70
President TAFT and Charles l. H.iles.
who also left the treasury TO go TO the
White House. were compelled 10 sub
NIT 10 the same conditions under Sec
Rotary Macveagh as were Imposed upon
him. and says Mr. MacVeagh for weeks
i, q time would have no relations what
ever with his assistants. while gov
eminent business was delayed. An
Hftr
of the public business under sucn con-
ditions was impossible and that the
treasury's business was practically at
standstill
DR. = ndrew's letter dscloscs the hith-
erto unpublished fact that Nj Mac
Veagh was on the verge Of leaving the
Cabinet in December. 1910.
Letter 10 the President.
Dr.. Andrews letter to the President
seyS in part:
In presenting my resignation OF
tho Office With which you have favored
me I deem It proper to acqualnt you
with conditions which n1ve existed in
the Treasury for the last TWO years at
least. and which are OF grave concern
not only 10 every official in the Treas
ury. but also 10 the many thousands
throughout the county. VINO nave
business 10 conduct with this depart
ment.
For a long time thu transaction Of
much OF the Treasurys business has
/ been at standstili. and an outbreak
Of some sort has been imminent? Many
able and energetic Treasury ofhcials
have had 10 bear the trunt OF harsh
criticism from people outside who
have suffered intermlnaole delays in
their business with the Treasury for
which the secretary alone was respon-
sble. and al the same time they have
haG - -
! harsh and more undeserved from Mr..
MacVeagh himself. whenever he dis
covered that they ha dventured to act
upon some matter ON minor import
arce without awaiting his decision
Time and again heads OF the great
divisions OF the Treasury have found
J themselves unable to carry on the
| been discouraged to the verge of re-
J signing their positions because they
| We're unable TO obtain any opinion or
decision from Mr.. MacVeagh upon ur-
gent questions which had been before
/ him for many months. At the same
time they have been invariably re-
( preached by him for such limited ao-
ton they have been compelled to
take OF their own responsibility.
Mr.. MacNeaghs mental attitude is
difficult 20 realize by those who have
not had intimate. every day 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 me nof
mis- own choice. would seem inexplic-
able in a man OF normal mind. For
many months at time he has persist
entity refused even to speak to those
/ officials of his department with whom
he should naturally have been in CON
slant personal communication.
tCuriously Suspended Rcia:Ions.,
When MIR. Hilles was Assistant Sec
rotary of the Treasury there was at
least one period amounting to several
weeks during which Mr.. MacVeagh re-
fused 10 have any relations with him.
| know that there were several longer
periods OF curiously S.spcnded rela-
. tions with Assistant Secretary Norton.
Mr. McClurG. the TREASURER of the
United states, afIirms that he has only
j hecn allowed one short interview with
the Secretary during a period covering
more than a year Mr.. Ralph. the d!-
rector of tbe Bureau of Engraving
and Printing. has repeatedly complain
ed of similar treatment OF himself and
many other instances could be sighted.
In my own case, with an Office ad :
L Joining and communicating with that
OF the secretary. the situation has been
similar. Although l have supposedly
been the representative of the secrc-
tary in his dealings with nineteen diff
ferent bureaus and divisions OF the
Treasury have not been allowed in
| the aggregate a total OF moro than one
hours conversation with him. includ
ing private interviews and conferences
in the~presence OF others. during the
! entire past year Meanwhile. I have
|/,--XI-,,-9 -