Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-08-06

pers in that case
SENATE CHAMBER,
WAsHGNaToS, June II, 1896.
sir-Referriug to tue nomination of Bradley D.
Smaey to be Collector Of Customs for the District OF
vermont, vice Wells, suspended and 10 be removed
nave the honor to transmit herewith the following
pers which have been sent by Gen. Wells in reply
to the accusations and complaints made against his
conduct as Collector vide affdavits Of GEN. Wells of
Huntington, Luther Baker, J. II. Hamilton, Mckenzie
w. Rounds, Il. Henry Powell, II. Rounds aud s. =.
Carpenter OF Rlchford and letters of WIN. T. Howell,
Special Agent OF the Treasury,and of N W. Bingham,
treasury Agent all Of which submit for the cOnsid
GRAFTON OF tue committee as complete vndcation OF
tue administration Of Gen Wells while discharglng
the duties Of collector Of CUSTOMS have to add that no
person appointed or employed by Cen Wells in the Gus
toms In Vermont service was appointed or employed
on my Recommendation, direct or indirect; that be-
ieVe aud know, so far as personal observation and
knowledge OF tue country can authorize me to say so,
that deu Wells's adminisrationhas been as complete
andperfect for service Of the has
existed since the foundation OF the government. lie
devoted his whole time and attention TO that buai-
ness, and never to my knowledge information took
any other part In politics than that Of simply voting
for the candidate that he believed ought TO be eected
That Gen. Wells was volunteer soldier In the war
OF the rebellion entering the service either as pr-
yate or In very low rank, aud that he conducted
himself throughout the with such conspicuous
galiantry aud good sense to have terminated bis
career In that service with very high honor aud IN
very high rank. That he appointed aud has been
rCappOnted collector Of customs for that district with
SO far AS know and believe, the universal approval
of both Republicans and Democrats. | am informed
from the very best of Sources aud believe that when
the present acting collector had reduced the number
OF employees aud officers In that district to go he earn
eHty insisted to the Secretary Of the Treasury, to
the President that the district taken out Of the
provisions of tue civil service laws aud regulations
aud that's further ais and appointments should
be made without examination and on his recommend
alton. II Is proper to say that the Secretary Of the
Treasury in his letter 10 the Senate in response to ia
resolution on the subject, says, If correctly re mem
Der IT, that here II correspondence that subject
in his possession; but have been informed by Of
the commissioners Of the civil service that such Cur
respOndence did exist aud referred to tue civil
service commission for consideration and reply aud
that the reply of tue civil service commission was
that the law aud the regulations still applied to the
district. have personal knowledge Of tue country
aud Of the roads aud avenues Of communication with
Canada and the United States, mentioned by Gen.
Wells IN his letter. aud confirm tbs same; aud state
without hesitation that the diminution Of the force
caused by Mr. Smaley was, in respect Of the security
OF the revenue against smuggling, unwise aud in
furious one, IN my opinion
In respect Of the response of the Secretary of the
Treasury to the last resolution Of the Senate calling
for copy Of an AFFIDAVIT Of one Hall mentioned in
the secrearys hrst report, have to say that In my
opinion the conduct Of the Secretary is plain aud
pslpable violation Of the statute which requires him
to give Information to either house Of Congress- An
affidavit filed In public department cannot be con-
sldered as private or conhdential communication.
To be an ahdayit the paper must be TO before
public ohcer IN solemn and Judicial way. aud can
have, from the very nature Of things no quality Of
confidence or secrecy IN it.
have further to submit to the committee that the
reason alleged by the Acting Secretary Of the Treas
ury for not Transmitting copy OF that affidavit is
think, utterly insufficient both In law and morals and
scandal and reproach to any Just administration
Of affairs II head Of department is to decide for
himself regarding official paper that be does not
think 1t entitled to belief aud IL lie and scaudai
and therefore refuses 10 disclose 1t and thereby aids
in screening the perjurer from contempt and from
punishment be becomes himself an accessory to the
crime. do not know the date Of the affidavit, and
apparently the Senate caunot ascertain 1t through any
voluntary action Of the Secretary, but must pre-
sumo that this very affidavit furnished to the
President or the Secretary Of the Treasury for tue
purpose Of furnishing ground for the suspension and
ultimate removal Of this soldier Of tue Republic. In
view Of these circumstances, | earnestly protest
against the Senate being party to this performance
may add although II Is not material to the ques-
ton Of Gen. Wellss conduct, that personally know
there Is other official correspondence between myself
and the Secretary Of the Treasury, the subject Of
this proposed removal, which has not been communi-
Gated aud which should be must glad to have the
Senate and the people Of the country How much
further and other official information lists that has
In like manner been withheld, l, Of course, have no
means OF knowing. Respectfully yours,
GEO. +. EDMUNDS.
To Mr. Mcmillan, Chairman Commerce Commit