Year: 1875

SUPERVISOR TUITION REMINDS THE PRESIDENT


THAT HE IT WAS WHO URGED HIM TO STAY THE


TRANSFER OF REVENUE oFFICERs-LABoRI-


GUS EFFORT TO SHELTER BABCoCK AND HIS


MASTER.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 16, 1875.


Supervisor Tuition has addressed the following letter
to President Grant,


UNITED STATES INTERNAL REVENUE


SUPERVISORS OFFICE, DISTRICT or PENNSYLVANIA,
NEW JERSEY, MARYLAND DISTRICT COLUMBIA


DowMNGrowS, Pa, Dec 10 1876. ]
To His ExcELLESCY U. s GRANT


SIR observe that Senator Henderson in the trial OF
the OF the United States Avery f his speech
correctly reported) charges General Babcock your
private secretary with having some connection with
the ''St Louis Whskey Ring and in their interest
having improperly influenced you to revoke the order
of the Secretary of the Treasury transferring super
visors dated January ~ 1875. AS have claimed the
credit of having influenced you to revoke that order
feel is my duty to the responsibility and
receive whatever odium If any attaches thereto, and
with this in view beg leave to remind you of the
facts as they occur to me.


On about the last day of January 1875 received
letter from Commissioner Douglass, enclosing the
secretays order of the 27th of January transferring
me to the ST Louis district and directing report
there for duty the 10Th of February l went to
Washington on the night of the Sd OF February saw
Commissioner Douglass the morning of the 4th and
asked him how long was expected to remain ut ST.
Louis; to which he replied, perhaps a year-slx
months at least" said # 50 would have to resign
as could not go TO ST. Louis for six months. Mr.
Douglass stated that these transfers originated and
were ordered by the Secretary and that had better
see him. tnen went directly TO the Arlington, where
Secretary Bristow was confined to hts room from the
effects Of fail, and had quite lengthy interview
made substantially the same statement to hm-that IL
it was proposed to keep me at St. Louis six
months year | would be compelled TO
tender my resignation, as could not take my family
with me and would not leave them six months for
the sake of the Office. Besides which, | had some
property and other personal interests that could not he
neglected for that length OF time The honorable Sec
retary finally agreed that should go, with the under
Standing that was at liberty return on the LIST day
o. April, thus making my absence about six weeks.
To this assented, but at the same time stated that
should not be able TO accomplish any good. That II
extensive frauds, which, he feared perpetrated
there and at other points by distilleries with tho
knowledge and aid Of local officers they would cover
them so deep that l should not be able TO discover
them That the fact OF these transfers of supervisors
and revenue agents having been published, giving
the parties full notice for two or three
weeks that there to be sucn changes
would give ample time to the persons interested TO so
completely their fraudulent transactions as to
render 1t almost impossible to trace them. respect
fully suggested that in my opinion, ID would be much
better to send some competent discreet person, who
would not be known and whose movements would be
entirely secret to SEQ what going on and in this
way the parties could be caught in the of deaudng
and sufficient evidence be obtained on which TO make
seizures and thereby get other proofs of fraud and
urged that this plan should be adopted not only at ST.
Louis but Chicago and other suspected points and
suggested to the Secretary that Special Agent Brooks
who had been on duty with me for about five
years, would be the very best man for that
naly, the Secretary suggested that had
probably better the President, as he had taken
great interest In this matter. l. therefore d.
rectly to the White House. saw General Babcock with
whom at that time had scarcely speaking acauaint-
ance and told him that wanted TO you that had
been ordered TO report for duty at St Louis 18th
inst and that / desired TO see you before going He
replied that you engaged with Senators and mem
bers but that Il would call hour could have an
interview with you. called at the time named and
General Babcock took in my card and was admitted
at once, when stated To you, as had done TO the
Secretary that IL the transfer 10 ST. Louis con-
tinue for any considerable length OF time would be
necessary for me to resign; but that this
coon have twenty or more applicants for my
place who would be willing to go to ST. !
Louis or anywhere else for the sake of
holding the position. l, however, stated that |
Secretary Brsow had kindly consented to my return.
ing East by the FIRST OF April and then stated you
had 10 the honorable secretary that in my opin.
on good could be accomplished by these transfers
at least 30 far as detecting frauds that had already been
committed and bringing TO justice the guilty parties
was concerned for If the Secretary his
belief that extensive frauds being committed by |
disters at ST. Louis Chicago and other points, with
the knowledge and connivance OF officers there that
they being advised two or three weeks In advance Of
changes Of Supervisors and Revenue agents. would |
cease the fraud and cover their transaction go
pletely that the new officers would not be able |
to discover the fraud that had been committed
or detect the guilty parties and stated to you the sug
gestion had made the Secretary about sending sua-
BILE person or persons without the knowledge OF either
officers dstilers SO that they might be detected in
the very OF fraud and ther manner of stealing and
their associations and combinations fully discovered
and that then, n the department had not confidence
in the local officers temporary transfer of Su-
PcAVlSulS SouAu DO nAuo lof the purpose OF L
making seizures and properly working up
the cases You listened to attentvely and hnally
said the more you thought about the subject the
more you we're convinced that the transfer of Super
visors as ordered would result in little good and
said that you would suspend the order that day Thus
you fully decided to suspend the order and stated
TO me before left you and before General Babcock had
an opportunity to speak to you the subject, he
was not present at the time and am quite certain |
that you arrived at this conclusion during inter-
view ! am confident, therefore, that Cen |
eral Baoeock could mot have influenced you |
in reyoking the order referred 10, and |
what said TO you the subject was my Judgment
for the best interests Of the service and tho
results In ST. Louis Chicago and Milwaukee fully justi-
ned your action in tho matter have felt that IL
due both to you and General Babcock TO make this
statement Of facts, TO be used you deem proper
Wow OF the charges made from time to time In the pa
pcrs and especially the speech OF ex-senator Hendcr
son above referred to- have the honor be very re-
spcctfuly your obcdicnt servant,


ALEX. r. TUITION, Supervisor


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