Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-07-30

cOrding to law, says That for the past
II years ending August 81, 1885, have
been employed in the United States Gus
toms service at the port of Island Pond.
district of Vermont. Was first appointed
an Inspector, but soon after made deputy
collector, and on or about the LIST of July.
1881, was placed IN charge of the Office by
Gen. William Wells of Burlington. VT
the then collector of customs Of said dis
trict, About the Goth of August 1850. we
received visit from ~ WinslOW, special
employe, who requested to know the mum
per OF officers Stationed at the port and
their various duties, which | gave him
also explained that the Office wa. open
from D Il. m. until II at night This nm
usually long day was necessary to properly
accommodate importers and facilitate the
business OF the railway company He
then asked to see the impost book ana
wanted to know why greater force
should be employed here than at the port
OF Newport, VT, whose annual collections
showed about the same as ours. further
explained that the total collections Of the
two ports could be the same aud vet be no
crlterlon.ot the amount of work performed
at each, for the reason that at the close of
navigation on the st. Lawrence river and
during the winter months many millions
OF dollars worth of merchandise pass this
port IN, bona for expectation via the ports
OF Portland and Boston. Very little if
any OF this business is done at Newport
also we have 100 cars to their one Of the
transit trade through Canada We also
nave very large amount of lumber en-
tered LOT transportation in bond to other
ports all of which has to be surveyed and
actual quantity returned and all of this
class of business only shows as little
matter of fees in the collections, and vet
much time must be spent in surveying,
inspecting and sealing the cars if proper
regard is had for the protection OF the
revenue. Mr.. Winslow seemed satisfied
with this explanation said he had never
visited district where the work was
done and records kept so well as in the
district OF Vermont; and | must confess
can not understand how man could
make such gross misrepresentation of
facts as is contained in his report under
date of 9th August last. He was in the
office less than one hour, and one half of
that time was spent by him in delivering
an eulogy on the political life and history
of Roscoe Conkling. To gain an accurate
knowledge of the actual amount of work
performed by the officers at this port sew
eral days would be required to Investigate
the various branches. He gave one-half
hour to the eXami nation of the records
and the balance of his Information was
obtained at levee attended largely by the
hungry and thirsty ! said to him, that
as Collector Wells was removed and my
own successor in office was already named,
| could possibly have no object in stating
anything but the truth, but it seems that
the desired information was not to be
found in the records of the office and from
those who were most familiar with the
work, but WAS found very plentiful out
side. Seven men were employed at this
port during the administration of Collec-
tor Wells, four of whom were soldiers,
two of whom We're wounded in the ser
vice, one losing an arm. The other three
were young men of ability. Six men are
employed by Collector Smalley, and great
complaint is made by shippers because
their customs business is not done with
the usual dispatch All of the old soldiers
have been removed, and at the head of
the office has been appointed +. c. Robin
son, member of three different firms
doing business in and near this town.
namely A. Bartlett IL Co, Bartlett y
Robinson, and the Averll Lumber COM
pany. The last named have been i'm
porters of lumber, and think it would
take but very little investigation to show
that they We're still. OF the other three
new appointments, one only served his
country during the war, and then only for
nine months. He was appointed more for
his political than for his soldierly merits
One is only noted for his former intern
perate habits. The other, being the last
and fourth, is young man of good NOR
ais, and every way worthy of the position.
| make this deposition willingly and
gladly, believing that Mr.. Winslow's
charges against Collector Wells, of Eek
travagance and wastefulness' of the pub
y
were his ideas of the amount of business
done at this port. AUSTIN II. H ALL,
Sworn to before me this Eth day of
May 1856. GEORGE ). ROBINSON.
Notary Public.
The letter of John Reeve, station agent
of the Grand Trunk Railway company
at Island Pond, states that he had been
stationed at Island Pond for seven years.
and in continual communication with the
custom house, and that he was warranted
in stating most emphatically that there
has never been more officers employed
here than were needed to perform the du-
ties required by the government and to
pass our cars with the despatch necessary
to prevent damaging or veXatious delay
but on the contrary in the winter season
| have considered the help less than it
should be and have at times detailed a
man to assist the officers in checking loads
of steamship freight.
The above documents, it will be seen,
meet squarely every charge brought
against Collector Wells, and warrant the
conclusion of the Senate committee that
Gen Weiss administration of his Office
was faithful intelligent, honest. econo-
mical and pure