Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1882-09-08
The Alaska Collector.

subject of more criticism from all
parties, during his connection with
the Treasury Department on this
coast, than VIM. Goverueur Morris,
the present Collector of Alaska.
|, one half that is said of him is true,
he is unfit to hold any office, but
this does not seem to lessen the
favor in which he stands at Wash
ington. a writer in the Oreyonian,
who accompanied the Dakota excui.
sionistS, has this 10 say of the man
and his acts:
The people there have saddIed up.
on them as Collector of Customs
man thoroughly unfit for any posi-
ton OF pubic trust, whose only claim
to recognition by the Government
seems to be that he has a name
honored i'll revolutionary history.
Being the highest, and aside from
his deputies, the only civil function
AIRY in the Territory, he is far from
regarding himself as the servant of
the people or of the Government, j
but appears to regard himself q
king and the people as his subjects.
Unless abject difference is paid him,
his lordy displeasure is at once
aroused, and he seeks to make the
confines of his kingdom too warm
for the unlucky offender. Aside
from some saloon keepers, the writer
heard but one expression off senti-
ment with regard to this officer
that it would be happy day for
Alaska when he was removed. Such
was also the experience of the excur-
sionists with whom / conversed con-
corning the matter. 1t is popularity
supposed that no liquor is admitted
into Alaska, yet in the three or four
saloons in Sitka whisky was to be
had. and the Collector is said to be
their best customer. 1t is not open.
ly shipped as liquor, but designated
as something else. Still this Collec-
tor caused it to be telegraphed over
the country that the people of Sitka
were plague-stricken, and that to
save life stimulants were not to be
had.
A merchant of Sitka, John G..
Brady, owner of several cattle,
fenced small plot of waste ground
in which to contine the stock at
night. The Collector wrote him an in.
decent letter of eight pages. and this 8
Was also in the same way telegraphed
over the country as the jumping Of
valuable Government land. In the
same dispatch was an unjustiiable
personal attack upon Commander
Pearson, of the WachuseH.
A short time previous to the arrival
of the Dakota the Collector was guilty
of an outrageous action that excited
indignation in the minds of all who
learned the circumstances of the
case.
Word reached Sitka that the mis-
sionary and his wife at Chilcooss
were not only out of provisions, but
were both sick, the life Of the lad43
even being despaired of, appealin
to friends to come to their assistance.
The steamer Rose, owned by Brady q
and others, was lying idle at thu
wharf, because the licensed engineer
had gone to Juneau to engage in
business. A competent engineer
was engaged to take his place, who
was waiting the arrival of Inspector
Morgan to apply for license. II g
was decided to send the Rose to
Chilcoot and bring the missionaries
to Sitka, where they could be. cared
for. Lieutenant Benson, in charge
of the marines, furnishing her coal
for the trip. Collector Morris, who 3
was cogniZant of these facts, inter-
posed no objection to the Rose GO
ing, but sent letters by her to Jun &
eau.
Notwithstanding this, upon the
return of the Rose from her errand
of mercy, she was seized by the 3
Collector and fine of 81 900 inn
posed for running without licensed
engineer, he maxim :, the ridiculous
demand OF immediate payment of
the fine. Capt. Morgan, the inspec-
tor, who was passenger on the
Dakota, examined the engineer. 81
found him competent, and granted y
him a license. When the Dakota ]
sailed from Sitka the result of the
sickness of the missionary's wife
was still uncertain.
The U. S. District Attorney in-
stituted no proceedings here in the 9
Bose case, as requesting by the COLI
lector, simply referring the matte
to the Secretary of the Treasury
and it is safe to predict, when that 7
officer learns of the facts, the Rose
will be ordered released.
The Indian dogs, not having the 4
fear of the Collector before their
eyes, made way with several chickens
belonging to him. Nothing short Z
of their determination would atone
for this outrage. So from off the &
piazza aud out of the windows of the I
custom house death and destruction
was dealt out to any hapless dog
that came in reach of his bullets,
until seventeen had been killed.
The Indians dog stands in about
the same relation to him as does the
horse or COW to the white man, as
s sting him to make his living by
helping in the capture Of fur animals
aud game. There were serious fears
of an outbreak on the part of the
Indians, so much so that Lieuten-
ant Benson, of the marine gusrd.
felt it his duty to issue an ordse
commanding the inebriated Collector
to cease the killing of tie dogs. Il
is difficult to think with patience OF
such a man being retained in any
position of public trust.