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


been so much discussion, has been taken
out of the list of contest ted and doubtful
cases, by the resignation of General
Wells, the suspended collector, and the
appointment 10y the president of Col. Is.
y. simalley, rs collector. to fill the
vacancy thus created. Mr.. Smalley's
confirmation was a matter of very great
doubt as long as his confirmation might
be taken as an endorsement on the part
If the Senate Of the alleged charges upon
Nkich Collector Wells was suspended :;
out under the new aspect of the case
with an official statement that there are
no charges on file against him affecting
his honor or personal character or official
conduct. and strong report in his favor
from committee of the Senate and his
consequent resignation, there is no doubt
of the confirmation of Mr. Smalley. Mr..
Weiss letter of resignation is as follows :
GEN. WELI.s'S LETTER OF RESIGNATION.
BURLINGTON, Vt, July 22nd, 1856
.}rOrCr ClcrcluHd. President Of the
Juitcd StdtcS washington, ID. C.:
SIR.-In the latter part of August, 1885,
/ received at the hands of Il. b. Smalley,
Esq. your letter dated July 25th, 1880
notifying me of my suspension from the
Office of collector of customs for the dis
trict of Vermont. No reasons We're as
signed for your action in the premises.
During the entire term of my service as
collector, | have given to it my best ener-
gieS, and in the selection of SuOordinateS,
nave, without exception, taken first into
account the necessities of the service, and
the fitness of the persons appointed. !
have in no instance appointed Il man to
office, or recommended an advance in his
compensation, or his promotion in any
way, with any other view, or because of
any service he had rendered, or might be
expected to render, the Republican party,
directly or indirectly.
in the face of Il public declaration that
40 faithful officer should be removed
without cause, ! was suspended, and not
even graHted hearing; i'll fact, man
from the lowest grade, an employe, not
an officer of the government, was, after
my suspension, detailed to make a case
against me. In his attempt to do this,
it is believed he was simply obeylng the
Instructions of his superiors,"
] care nothing about being suspended
because am Republican but after serv-
ing faithfully as a soldier in the war of
he rebellion for more than four years
and rs years rs collector OF customs, any
attempt to make me out an unfathtul
servant, is, submit, unjust to say the
least.
The Senate Committee on Commerce, in
their report. after carefully investigating
my case. say at seems to your commit
zee that the public declarations Of the
president, and the spirit, if not the letter,
" the law, demand his (my) retention in
his eiiice until the expiration of his term. ~
The committee also stated, in the same re-
port, that was a competent and faithful
officer, that the conduct of the affairs of
the office was honest and efficient, that
my record as Il soldier was exceptionally
brilliant, that all the charges made We're
made subsequently to my suspension.
My personal and official conduct as col
,ector having been fully Vindicated, |
hereby resign the Office of collector of Gus
CONS for the district of Vermont.
am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
WILLIAM WELLS.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE.
In the United Senate July 3, 1886, in
executive session, Mr.. Frye from the Com
mittee on Commerce, submitted the fol-
lowing report
In the case of Bradley b. Smalley, nom
mated to be collector of customs for the
district of Vermont, vice Gen. William
Wells suspended and to be removed, your
committee have made careful investiga-
ton of all the papers submitted, and re-
port their conclusions.
In answer to a resolution adopted in the
Senate February "a, 1885, requesting the
SECRETARY VI lIt treasury W lIdllSlillt lD
the Senate all papers filed in the treasury
department relating to the management
of the Office of collector of customs for
the district of Vermont, or relating tC
any alleged misconduct of the collec
1Or Of said district, certain papers
comm lnications of y. Winslow, "specia
empioyen who, under the instructions Of
the treasury department, as therein ap
pears, was engaged in making an investi
CATION, after the suspension OF Gen. Wells
into the conduct of the Office while he was
It's incumbent.
His conclusions, comprising in fact al
Of the charges against the suspended Off
Ger communicated to the senate by tn,
secretary of the treasury, and necessaril,
not communicated to the president unit
after the suspension, are as follows:
find that Collector Wells, IN the conduc
of his Ofce ms collector for the district o
Vermont, has been 'Ntravagant and wastefu
employment OF sGbordinates who have rem
Tered little or no service to the government
and larger number of employees than neces
sary for The proper discharge of the duties 0
MS Office. (See page ID
II il painly the duty Of public officer VIII
intrusted with the disbursement of publ
moneys and the employment OF assistants (
Use such trdst only in the employment of sue
,ubordinates ms are necessary to the prope
discharge of the duty Entrusted to him, mt tn
least expenditure of money consistent wit
she public interest. Bcyo d this voatio
II utIcla. oath ami the trust imposed.
that IN the retention of = i. Carpenter Il
principal deputy at the port OF kchford, whe
"a d Carpenter j. engaged largely in persona
interests, and as II matter OF fact could an
lid not devote but a small portion If his tim
10 his Official duties, was clearly Il violation q
The obligation of his Office See pages 3,
T.hat in permitting the use of n portion {
the customs once AT the port OF Richford,
~ tn son OF the deputy collector in charge
on III" purpose OF conducting customs
ptokCrfs" business, by the collector, he vie