Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-16
WANTS WILBUR J. CARR
OUSTED FROM SERVICE
H. R. Dietrich Claims Consular
Service Head Owes Him
S2O.5O for a Hat.

Away back in 1907. to oblige friend,
Wilbur J. Carr. director Of the consular
service. asked Herman r. Dietrich. then
consul general at Guayaquil. Ecuador. to
select and purchase one Of the celebrated
iipijapi hats-known commercially as
Panamas because they are not made In
Panama-and send it on to him. The hat
was bought and sent to Washington and
received by Director Carr.
Director Carr would like to pay for the
hat. hut does not know what amount TO
send Mr. Dietrich. who is now out OF the
consular service. Mr.. Dietrich wants to
be paid. and further complains that he
has not been fairly treated in the matter,
and would have Director Carr officially
rebuked, even dismissed from the service
Director Carr says he has been trying
to have Mr.. Dietrich state the amount Of
his indebtedness to him over a long
period. applying TO him by letter and also
speaking to him the matter on the
occasion of two visits to Washington
paid by the retired consular officer. Mr..
Dietrich tells Senator Stone that the hat
cost sic. and with interest and expenses
make a total debt of 5000. This Is the
first knowledge. Mr.. Carr says, that he
has had that the hat did not cost So5.
S.si even 500.
Carr's Explanation Of Case.
Acknowledging debt for some un-
known amount. the price of the hat. Di-
rector Carr expresses his anxiety to liqui-
date it. He explains the case thus:
a fellow-employe Of the State Depart
ment. he says. wanted a hat. and Mr..
Carr wrote Consul General Dietrich ask
ing him to pick up one Of the latest things
In jipijapi hats. The hat was so long in
coming. says Mr.. Carr. his friend went
into the open market and bought much
needed summer headgear.
The hat finally came. Preceding it was
letter from Mr.. Dietrich calling atten-
ton TO the fact that such hats would cost
anywhere from So to 800. or even more.
No cost price of the hat selected was
named in the letter.
The hat reposed in Mr.. Cars desk for
some time. until he made il q present to
another friend. who admired 1t. Mr. Carr
did not sell IL, but gave 1t away.
The matter had slipped out of his mind
In 1911. when it was brought to his at
tention in a roundabout manner Mr..
Dietrich was Immediately communicated
with by Mr.. Carr. who said he had looked
over his papers for a bill and his check
book for stub showing payment for the
hat. and that he could not find any mem
orandum. With apology for the neglect
and oversight. Mr.. Carr asked that the
account be sent 10 him so that he might
at once dispose of It,
Mr. Carr received answer to this
request. he says, and the matter went
along until Mr.. Dietrich came to the
United States and reported to the State
Department last year. Mr.. Carr spoke
to Mr.. Dietrich about the matter, he
says. and Mr.. Dietrich told him not to
bother. and that the papers were probably
back home. Again, when Mr.. Dietrich
was once more in Washington, Mr.. Carr
asked for the account, he says, with no
definite result
Dietrich Takes Another Method.
Il shall be glad to settle with Mr.
Dietrich II he will only tell me how much
the hat cost" said Mr.. Carr.
Mr.. Dietrich, however, has taken an
other method in the effort to collect his
account. He has written the following
letter to Senator Stone. under date of
April %:
Il respectfully file charges against Mr..
Carr for abuse of power and authority.
] hope that you will take this matter up
at once with the President and Secretary
OF State with a view to punish Mr..
Carr and that you will also bring the
matter to the attention of the Senate of
the United States and have a resolution
passed requesting the immediate dis
charge OF Mr.. Carr from the service of
the government.
The hat he says, cost SIG. He wants
interest and expenses. making total of
So 80.