Gardner v. Anderson

Communications in writing passing between officers of the government, in the course of official duty, relating to the business of their offices, are privileged from disclosure, on the ground of public policy, and the production will not be compe led by courts of law or equity. Neither will secondary evidence of their contents be admissible, whether in the form of copies or of

’ oral statement of witnesses who have read and recollected the same. Consequently, an official letter from an appraiser of merchandise to the secretary of the treasury, recommending a person for appointment as clerk in…