New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-14
UNFIT, SAYS WICK OF
MINISTER SULLIVAN
Former Receiver General
TestiheS TO Scandals in
SantO Domingo.

Waiter ". Wick. former receiver gen
cral Of customs 81 Sauto Domingo. told
Yesterday why. Inv 'h' judgment. james
Mark sullivan. the present American
Minister. was unfit 20 hold that post
he occupied the witness stand All day
before Sonator-cicct Phelan, Of Cali
foruia. whom President Wiieou ap-
pointed special commissioner 90 invee'i-
gate the charges against Sullivan. The
hearing was held in Mr.. Pnelan's suite
at the Waldorf
I'm reply 10 questions By Charles H..
Strong. counsel 90 fhc commissioner.
Nict said ne had not been nro". nd
another appointment or remuneration
Of ANY kIud IRON any soIr-, for prc. -
ing the charge against sullivan. lie
said his only purpose was TO vlndlcate
himself in view Of the report made
by Ex-Governor Fort OF New Jersey,
who was sent 20 Santo Domingo last
fan 90 investigate -hc charges. that
the charges were uBWarrautcd, and the
intimatIon ~ the time that he, Wick.
had been "k.ckeG out" Further. he
considered 10 his duty TO the President
to urge "a thorough investigation.
Sullivan started in early, Nick said.
70 cultivate the friendship of the OH
cials and directors Of the Banco Ma
cional. at Santo Domingo. "the crowd,
as he called them, who we're scheming
TO exploit the country. Sullivan. Frank
+. K. Mitchell. president Of the Banco
Nacional. and others, brought such
pres-ur 20 bear upon him that. after
months Of holding out, Wick said, he
finally Welded and transferred the Gus.
tom receipts from the private bank OF
Santiago Michelena to the Banco Ma
cicnal.
Bryar's Name was Used.
"Whv did YOU weld after holding out
so long," asked Mr.. Strong.
"Principally because OF the statement
Of Sullivan that Secretary Bryan
wanted .he funds transferred. and That
il would allow "more feXlbihty IN tne
. channels OF currency answered MT.
Wick
Wick told Of Sullivan coming 20 his
office pricr 20 the transfer OF the
funds and threatening the banker
NIchclena. uho was there. unless ne
consented 10 the transfer. Wick SAID
Sullivan used language AZ the time IN
becoming United States Minister.
Asked II Sullivan was sober, ne sara
he believed him sober, but greatly
excited"
"Did Sullivan ever threaten you per
sonallve" asked Mr.. Strong.
mo. not directly" said the witness;
"he was always very pleasant on the
outsi5e. but il came TO me from other
sources that he had said he would nave
me removed q,
The witness told OF "revolutionists'
shooting up the town. lie exhibited a
bullet which, he said. found it's way
into his room at the United States
Custom House. lie had no idea 1t was
meant for him. he said, but others had
told him that it was some OF the
Bsnco Nacional crowd" Who had done
the shooting in that neighborhood.
sullivan Pelted with Bricks.
was Minister Sullivan ever shot
att" asked Commissioner Phelan. 81,
"Not with bullets. but with bricks,
replied Wick. and some OF the bricks
hit him on several occasions
"Was he not popular with the citi-
zens p" asked Mr. Phelgn.
81 should say not" said the witness.
Nick related how the United States
government kept some of the "revolu-
tionarv generals" I'M Santo Domingo on
its payroll merely TO keep peace. He
said revolutions started usually about
the time the government funds used
for such purposes ran out.
The witness said that Sullivan was
continually imprcssing upon him that
the Department Of State was favorable
10 the Hugh S. Jarvis interests. Jarvis
was vicc-president Of the Banco Ma
cioual
He told OF hearing that William C..
Beer. a lawyer, Of Il Broadway, who
was counsel for the Dominican bank
and one Of Sullivan's sponsors. had
told certain Southern contractors that
he would obtain large contracts for
them i'm Santo Domingo for a retainer
of $4,000 and q % or 30 per cent rake
Off on the contracts. Mitchell, Beer,
Jarvis and John G.. Gray. all interested
i'm the Banco Nacioual. were in the
crowd who had obtained Sullivan's
appointment In order TO use him, the
witness said.
Accuses Bishop OF BlackmaiI.
MIR. Wick said that he had talked to
Sullivan and told him all the things ne
had heard. hoping he would turn over
new leaf and make good lie said
Sullivan thanked him and admitted
some Of the charges. principally that
he had cashed drafts IN advance for his