The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1912-07-03
BIG ROW in
TREASURY
DEPARTMENT
Assistant Secretary QUITS
Scores MacVeagh
Says Conditions in Department
Are Choatic
Taft In Statement Says An
| drew Had to Quit

washington, July 3.--A. Piatt An
drew today rendered his resignation
to Taft as assistant secretary of the
treasury. In a spirited letter to the
president, Andrew writes of conditions
in the treasury department which are
alleged to be due to the attitude OF
MacVeagh toward many Of his subor-
dinates.
Andrews letter Of resignation
charges the subordinates in the treas
ury department. 'have been hampered
and discouraged at every turn by
Macveagh's idiosyncrasies and his in
capacity for decision" It contains a
scathing arraignment of Macyeagh's
administration of government affairs
and created profound sensation in
official circles,
one portion of Andrews letter to
the president is susceptible of being
interpreted to the effect that other
treasury officials are dissatisfied with
MacVeagh's treatment Of them.
"For further evidence of the peculiar
difficulties which surround the hand
ling Of business in the treasury" he
suggests that Taft consult Lawrence
o. Murray, comptroller of the cur
rency; Lee McClung. treasurer Of the
United States; Joseph E, Ralph. di.
rector Of the bureau OF engraving and
printing; Charles A. Kram, auditor
for the postofice; Royal EcabelL com.
| missioner Of internal revenue; James
Knox Taylor, former supervising ar.
chitect; and Charles d. Norton, DIR
| Andrews predecessor and former sec
retary to the president"
Andrews letter to MavVeagh's ad-
vising him of the resignation. dis
closes the hitherto unpublished fac
| that MacVeagfl's was on the verge o1
leaving the cabinet, in December. 1910
In one part the letter says:
t'You can not forget how / stood
by you when you were on the point
of having taken from your hands whai
probably was the most important un.
dertaking of your administration
When the White House, in Decem.
Der, 1910, without consulting you, and
entirely without your knowledge, en-.
tered into negotiations for the issue
of Panama bonds, the embarrassment
OF the situation threatened to force
your resignation. You will remember
| that / did everything in my power tt
avert your humiliation and that
| Loyalty agreed to resign and leave the
service with you, if your resignation
became necessary"
Andrews letter to the president say
in part: In presenting my resigna.
| ton Of the office with which you hay,
| favored me, deem it proper to ac
quaint you with conditions that havt
EXISTED in the treasury for the las
| two years, at least, and which are o
/ grave concern, not only to every Off
| ciaI of the treasury but also to MANI
| thousands throughout the countr.
who have business to conduct witt
this department.
'tF'or a long time the transaction
of much Of the treasury's business ha.
| been at standstill and an outbreal
of some sort has been imminent
/ Many able and energetic treasury Of
ficials have had to bear the brunt o
harsh criticism from people outsid
| who have suffered delay in their bus
mess with the treasury, for which tn
secretary alone is responsible, and a
1 the same time they have had to sub
4 NIT to criticism even more harsh an
4 more undeserved from Mr.. MacVeag
| himself whenever he discovered the,
had ventIrred to act upon some mat
| ter Of minor Importance without wait
ing for his decision"
Had 10 Quit, Says Taft.
The White House made public tn
i statement OF the president as follows
@Mr. Andrews resignation as assist
| ant secretary Of the treasury was re
Quested. submitted and accepted Il
view OF his failure to obey order
given him by the secretary"