The New York herald., 1922-04-07
MELLON WARDS OFF
TREASURY SHAKEUP
Reported That He Will Resign
Unless Given Free Rein
in Department.
ASKS HARDING'S SUPPORT
Secretary Angered Over Pat
ronage Fights-Against
Wholesale Dismissals.
ASKS HARDING'S SUPPORT
special Dispatch to THE NEW yonk HERALD.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. d. c., April 9.
Secretary OF the Treasury Mellon
has told President Harding that he is
opposed to the methods of political
engineers who seek to turn topsy-
turvy the personnel of his department.
The Secretary is vexed over patronage
squabbles and 1t is reported that he
may leave the Cabinet unless the
President backs him up solidly and
allows him to have an absolutely free
hand in administering his department
without interference from the Capitol.
President Harding is eager that Mr..
Mellon remain in the Cabinet and at
the same time he feels that Democrats
out of sympathy with his administration
should be dismissed, Secretary Mellon
has no objection to such aDpolicy. but
thinks the Wholesale methods OF dis
charging would lower efficiency.
On three recent occasions when Secre-
tary Mellon was about to quit the Pres
ident had persuaded him to remain.
Blocked Wholesale Discharges.
Elmer Davis. Assistant Secretary Of
the Treasury, recently decided upon an
upheaval in the personnel that would
have cleared out Of the Government
service thousands or workers. had not
Secretary Mellon intervened. The plan
Of Mr. Dover. acting at the behest of
Republican leaders on Capitol Hill, was
to make a thorough house cleaning of
Treasury bureaus by removal of those
OF Democratic leaning. to make way for
Republicans.
The summary dismissals in the Bureau
OF Engraving was the first step In the
plan worked out by Mr.. Dover. 1t was
planned then to make general cleanup
In the Internal Revenue Bureau.
Mr.. Dover. however. encountered stiff
opposition from David II. Blair Com
missioner of Internal Revenue. who
had the stanch support of Secretary
Mellon. Commissioner Blair said that
he accepted full responsibility for the
manner In which the revenue bureau
was being run. and IL this was not ac-
ceptable he would resign. Differences
between Mr.. Dover and NJ. Blair be-
came serious. although they did not
reach the breaking point because Sec
retary Mellon intervened. The Presi-
dent also took hand in the dispute.
Although Mr.. Dover entered the
Treasury as the choice OF Mr.. Harding.
the President is said to have been per-
suaded In a long conference with Sec
retary Mellon yesterday that the
maneuvers of Mr. Dover held dangers
for the public service. One OF Mr..
Melons fears was that precipitate ac-
tion might bring on a panic of uncer-
tainty within the Internal Revenue
Bureau that would cripple the effi-
cheney of the entire organization. num-
bering 1000 employees.
Besieged by job Hunters.
Mr.. Mellon is known to be chafiny
under these and other petty annoyances
which recently have crept into his daily
routine. He Is besieged by ONCE seekers
md their hackers at the Capitol. II was
said that he has been angered because
or the fact that the major part OF his
time should be devoted to settling dis
putes over Jobs. He has found his
duties lrksome enough without such in
terference, and Is said TO have announced
his preference TO be rid OF such burdens
in his official routine.
Secretary Mellon, IL Is said, also wants
stronger support from the President In
his fght to prevent raid upon the
Treasury to pay a soldiers bonus. His
friends feel that he has carried the brunt
~ attack from the bonus advocates and
"a anxious that he get more vigorous
=, nnnrf from the Administration.