Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-06-26
THE COLLEC!ORSHIP.
Mr.. Smalley Will Not Take 1t on False Ac-
CusationS.


Washington Cor. Boston Journal
1t is pretty clear Mr.. b. b. Smalley
is soon to become collector of customs at
Burlington, Vt, vice General Wells to be
removed, but it is certain that General
Wells is not to be removed for some of
the causes alleged in the Democratic news
papers. 1t has been said that proof was
to be furnished the President that Cen
eral Wells is not only an offensive parti-
san, but that he has an interest in an inn
porting house, that of Wells, Richardson
X Co., which dlSqualities him as colec-
tor. 1t has surprised some of General
Weiss friends to hear that any suggeS
tons could be made, even in Democratic
paper, that there were any imputatOnS
upon his integrity, and it will please his
friends in Vermont to know that no
charges of that s. TT have been made by
Mr., Smalley, or by any one, and that no
accusation OF that character will be made
by Mr. Smalley, or be permitted to be
made by others on his behalf. Mr.. Small
ley, who happens to be here, was asked
the direct question tonight whether he
had heard any rumOr of reflection upon
General Weiss integrity. Mr. Smalley
answered that, unfortunately, he had
seen published an intimatiOn thai charge
IN light he made that General Wells had
some interest i'll an importing house, but
been made, no proof to sustain it could
be offered, if made, and that he MIR
SmdllcND. who was glad To be on terms of
personal intimacy with General Wells
would not accept the office if ii was to
be secured bV any charges of that sort. by
WhOmsOeVer made Mr.. Smallev added
that the only possible otfenSe that could
be laid at the door of General Wells is
that he is Il very earnest and enthusiastic
Republican, as most of the Federal otli-
GERS in Vermont are, and that no one will
ever say more thau that against General
Wells, with his consent. Ii appears that
the only possible basis for such report is
that when the President asked some of
Mi Smalley'S friends what charges, if
any, could be made against General Wells
IL Il reason why (his commission having
vet three years t. rum he should he re-
moved, some one suggested that there was
Il rumur in Vermont that General Wells
might possibly have some indirect owner
Snip IN the old nrm of which lac formerly
was the head. At the same time the
statement was emphatlcally made to the
President that no one had any proof To
support such Il rumOr, and that none
could he secured. The fact, undoubtedly,
is thar the President wants to make Mr..
Smalley collector of tine port of Burling
ton and that Secretaries Whitney and
Manning are very anxious that he should
receive that appointment that Mr.. Cleve-
land shrinks from any possible contest in
the Senate with Mr.. Edmunds, and that
before removing General Wells he wishes
to fortify himself with what the admin
istration is pleased to call evidence of
charges. That evidence will, undoubted-
ly, be furnished within a few days, and
il will be of this curious nature. Aida
Wits by the score, il is understood, will be
secured to show that General Wells has
urged his deputies To work Tor the Re
publican party, and that, in one instance,
he rebuked a subordinate for having
voted at some town election for "A Demo
cratic grand juryman. That is about
all there will be in the charges t hat will
be made against Gen, Wells.