Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-04-07
SHAKE-UP ROW
NOW APPEARS
TO BE SETTLED
Harding Reported to Have
Effected Amicable Ad-
justment.
"A MISUNDERSTANDING

WASHINGTON, April THE row over
the shake-up in the Treasury which Is
said to have brought Secretary Mellon TO
the verge Of quitting the Cabinet, was
settled to the satisfaction of all con-
cerned today by President Harding, ac-
cording to Administration officials.
AS a result of the Presidents interven-
ton, it was said the "shake-up" would
become a shake down." and the re-
organization of the internal revenue
bureau would go forward in an orderly
manner. Policy, not party, would be OBJ
served, officials said, in cutting the force
to the minimum Of efficiency.
The whole misunderstanding, 1t is
said. arose over methods to be employed
in the reorganization. Assistant Secre-
tary Dover. yexed over conditions "a
found in the bureau, favored a polio!
of cleaning out the Democrats and re
placing them with Harding men. In this
he was opposed by Collector OF Internal
Revenue Blair. Mr.. Blair regarded some
of the Democrats as efficient men, whom
he found it hard enough TO keep
from taking private employment.
Then came the drastic dismissal of
the heads Of the Bureau of Engraving
and Printing On the heels of this came
be taken in the collectors office. Of
fcials high and lcw, were thrown into
a panic. Mr.. Blair feared for the de-
moralization of his service and went to
Secretary Mellon. who issued a state
ment reassuring the employees.
Rumors of a shakeup persisted and
Mr.. Mellon, much annoyed took the mat
ter directly TO the President. AS a re
suit Of that conference, the rumors OF
the Secretary resignation have been set
at rest and all officials concerned are in
sympathy with the reorganization pro-
gram proposed by the President.
This program, in short, is to displace
undeserving and inefficient Democrats, of
whom a number remain in the bureau,
with deserving and efficient Republicans.
Secretary Mellon, his friends say, has
great confidence in MIR. Blair, with whom
he came in constant contact before the
appointment Of Mr.. Dover. They said he
has been greatly annoyed by deluge Of
requests from Senators and Representa-
tives for Jobs. following the appointment
Of Mr.. Dover Rather than tolerate con-
slant pickering. Mr.. Melons friends say
he was ready to quit the Cabinet.
With the question definitely settled,
Mr.. Dover said he would continue the re-
organization in the Internal Revenue Blu
reau until II worked as smoothly as the
recently reorganized Customs Service.
He emphasized the fact efficient workers
would he retained.
Mr.. Dover is understood to have a
plan to decentrallze the bureau in the
collection of back taxes, which are nearly
three years behind and causing much
dissatisfaction among business men. He
proposed to send experts to the various
internal revenue districts and there check
up and adjust the matter on the ground
Other bureaus are being reached in
the quiet reorganization being conducted
by the Administration. The latest to
be hit is the Shipping Board, where
Chairman Lasker says activities are to
be cut and only efficient men retained
While denying the move is political in
any sense, he said Democrats naturally
would be the first to go II the work did
not come up to standard.-Copyright
1922, by Public Ledger Company.