Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1864-04-23

of Mr.. Smith subsequently, must be taken ~ evidence
that he regarded the charges as fully substantiated
This memorandum will be found file in the Treasury
Department. in the Presidents hand writing. 1t shows
that he had a very clear understanding ofthe case:
Executive MANSION
WASHINGTON, March 10th, 1885, {
The removal Of Victor Smith, Collector Of Customs
at Port Angeles, W. T., is asked:
ist-Because all the Government officers there but
two desire it, 2d-Bccausc by Misrepresentation, and
for the purpose of speculation, he procured Act Of
Congress removing the Custom House from Port Town
send to Port Angeles. 3d-Because he has used the
public moneys in various ways for his private 4th
because lie made a contract by which one hundred
dollars per month, of public money was to be paid to
spirit-rappng newspaper, and on which four hundred
the Secretary Of the Treasury his transactions and
that the Secretary and President dare not
him. 6th-Bccause he has no business like practices,
if he has any such qualifications
REMARKS
In order t., right understanding Of the case, it will
he for the reader to bcarin mind the following
facts: a. .
lst-That after Smith had secured to himself con-
trolling interest in Port Angeles, in May 1892 he
tSs for OF se
leaving Lieut.. Mcrryman of the Revenue service in
charge as Acting Collector His report forwarded
reach Washington until after Smith had lcft. The first
Of August Smith returned to the Sound with the
Gutter Shmbck, and resumed possession Of the Office.
lie was indicted the September court Of that year
seen by reference to the Indictment after which he went
to San Francisco in the Cutter S"brick telcgraphcd
to Washington, with view of fOrestalling Lieut. Mer
lyman who had left about that time for Washington.
The letter of Paul X. Hubs, Acting District Attorney,
will be interesting in this connection. Finding that his
frauds upon the Treasury had been exposed he sits
about explaining them away FIRST by rcfunding to DR..
Allyn what he had wrongfuly taken from him, with a
view Of inducing him withdraw his statement made to
The Special Agent who subsequently visited the Gov
crnor tried get this original statement into his po
session. being satisfied with COPY Of offered him
by the Governor. 2d-lic procured from the Nudson's
Bay Company, certificate Of mistake in entering to
his credit, the deposit Of 81 00O 3dAn entry to the
credit Of the Government for the proceeds Of the sale OF
back part of the ledger, not noticed by Mcrryman and
his Clerk, Chalmers during the hrce months In which
the book vas daily handled by them.
After Special Agent Brown had "Morr.yh'y fntrsfi-
g1ted Smiths accounts, and reported by telegraph
the Treasury that every charge preferred by Mcrryman
utterly false, hc repairs to Washington in COM
hada the Treasury Of his account on the Both OF June
following later than the Both Of September previous.
1t is still more remarkable that Smith deposited with
the Treasurer of the United States to his credit just
about the amount he had been reported by Merryn.an
as being in default to the Government in june 1868,
the SANE d,y IN January, 1853, which he drew from
the Treasury year estimates az adrdce, amounting
to nearly $1,000. (See accounts of the Trcasury That
although Smith removed the 18th day Of May,
arranged among hands, that he kept possession
of the Office until the middle last OF September.
The proceedings had against Smith in civil court
were q,shcd BY aprcnpory order from the Solicitor OF
the Treasury District Attorney, received i'll March,
1853
The following Is the penalty which the law infcts
upon Collectors who engaged in trade and commerce.
"or who purchase by himself, otherwise in trust for
Statutes a, large, Vol Page g.. See S." fany person
shall ole nd any Of the prohibitions Of this Act
he shall be deemed guilty of high misdencanor, and
thereafter be incapable Of holding any office under
the United States"