Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1886-07-30

mort after carefully investigating my case, say 1T
seems 10 YOUR committee that the public declarations
a. ls demand bis I'm " retention In his office until
the expiration Of his term The commiee Ah9
stated In the report that was competent anu
tsithfi nhcer that the conduct Of the ahara OF the
once was honest aud efficient, that my record as SOL
dleI was ,reriiy ~ nv snspension
NV personal aud oicial conduct as collector having
been fully vndicated, hereby resign the once ui
collector Of customs for the district OF vermont
Yonr o6edient servant,
WILLIAM WELLS.
The suspension Of Gen. Wells took place,
as above stated, on July 25th of last year.
II has been claimed by the friends Of Gen.
Wells that there was one paper on file in the
treasury department which contained sworn
charges against him, and which reflected up
on persons connected with the Administra-
ton. That document the Judiciary Commit
toe and the Senate we're not able to obtain.
This was one Of the documents refused in the
noted controversy about the 'papers." The
Judiciary Committee, therefore, reported adj
versely the nomination Of Col. Smaley, in
very sharp report, the object Of which WAS to
vindicate Gen. WellP 1t ia understood, how
ever, that among the papers which the treas
ury department did furnish in partial response
to the request of the Judiciary Committee
was a statement that the department was in
the possession of no charges which rejected
upon the honor of Gen. Wells, and the re-
port Of the Committee on Commerce to which
Gen. Wells alludes, endorsed his personal
character, his record as a soldier, and his adj
ministration Of his cole ctorship in the high
est terms possible.
From information gathered from the Sen
ate documents in this case and from other
sources it is evident that "causes" to justify
the removal Of Gen. Wells were trumped up
after his suspension because the President
found himself in hot water for violating his
own civil service reform pretensions in the
matter Mr.. Atkins devoted three weeks to
travelling about the state in search Of evidence
Of offensive pattissnship," and finally the
Secretary of the Treasury came to the Presi-
, dents rescue by despatching Especial en-
ploye" named Winsow to make up an ex
parte case against Gen. Wells Winsow
came to Vermont, and after pretended in
yestigatlon returned to Washington and re-
5 ported that the General and his deputies had
managed the Office in wasteful and unlaw'
full way Among the papers which were filed
in the Office uf the Secretary Of the Treasury
containing charges against Gen. Wells as 81
% affidavit of Lester O. Hall Of st. Adams
which, it is stated, contained accusations o
: scandalous conduct on the part of certain sub
ordinates under the Collector of Customs
and this affidavit the Secretary refused t.
- transmit when it was called fer by the Senst
committee, because it was admitted by him t
- be false and scandaous. 1t was on Charges
- and "evidence" like this that the whole cas-
against Gen. Wells was made up and ii no'
u. falls to the ground with an exposure of III
e- whole scheme.
a. n- A newly developed element Which he
at doubtless led TO a willingness all around
az. have the matter Rmcably adjusted, is the fa
nd that Gen. Wells has been nominate, for sta
ais senator, an Office TO which he was inegib
la under the claim that he WAS still Federal o
on fee holder.
Is; 1t may be added that an important pap,
M in this case is a letter from Senator Edmund
MI in which he ruthessly exposes the true i
Rer wardness of the whole matter and lays ba
hst the hollowness OF Collector Smslley's "r
hat form" pretensions in reducing the number
employees in his department TO fifty in ord
to take it out of the civil service rules al
put the appointing power into his own hand