ACR MLG TAKEN OUT OF APCH SEQUENCE WHEN FLT CREW REFUSES TO INCREASE SPEED.

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LOTS OF TFC! CTLR SAYS HE ASSIGNED 170 KTS TO A POINT 3.9 DME FROM RWY. WE ONLY REMEMBER RECEIVING '170 KTS; MAINTAIN 4000'; CLRED FOR THE APCH; CONTACT TWR 118.7 (?) AT RUNTS (7 DME).' THE F/O INTERCEPTED G/S AT 4000' AS INSTRUCTED AND BEGAN CONFIGURING AND SLOWING. (WE HAD TFC ABOUT 3-4 MI AHEAD; ALSO.) AT ABOUT 7.9 DME; ON FINAL APCH; CTLR CALLED EXCITEDLY ASKING OUR AIRSPD. WE HAD JUST REACHED 140 KTS; I REPLIED; FOR FINAL APCH. HE WAS ABSOLUTELY LIVID! HE GAVE US A CHOICE OF INCREASING IMMEDIATELY TO 170 KTS OR BREAKING OUT. I SAID WE COULDN'T GO BACK TO 170 KTS (BY NOW ON A 5 MI FINAL). HE SAID; AGAIN; TAKE YOUR CHOICE. I SAID; 'TURN US OUT.' HE DID; AND WE TOOK THE 7 MIN IN FLT DELAY FOR RESEQUENCING. I TALKED TO THE WATCH SUPVR AND WE RESOLVED THE MATTER WITH THESE CONCLUSIONS: 1) A MISCOM HAD OCCURRED--FAULT UNKNOWN; 2) CTLR HAD BEEN UNREASONABLE EXPECTING HIGH AIRSPD ON SUCH A SHORT FINAL (PARTICULARLY IN MLG); 3) CTLR HAD PUNISHED US (SUPVR'S WORDS); AND 4) CTLR ACTED ON EMOTION WITH NEGATIVE IMPACT. THIS KIND OF NEGATIVE WORKING RELATIONSHIP WITH ATC IS REALLY GETTING OLD. FAA MUST GET A GRIP!