Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-12-20
The Alaska Inquiry.
Wide Variance in the State
ments of Witnesses.
VOORHEES, TACKLES THE TARIFF.

Senators Comforting About the Holiday
Reosss-An Arrangement Likely To BE
Neutrality-suspicious. on River and Harbor
Appropriations - Latest 0mciai News
from Hayti-Bailey's Show for Rejec-
ton Seems Pretty Good-Briefs.
WASHINGTON CITY, Dec. 20.-The house
committee on merchant marine and fisheries
yesterday morning resumed the inyestiga-
ton OF alleged abuses by the Alaska Com
mercial company in Alaska. William Cav
lit, special agent of the treasury, located on
st. George island, was examined by the COM
mirtee at great length.
He depicted the island as dominated by the
influence Of the Alaska Commercial company.
There was no law but that Of force. The en-
ployes OF the commercial company we're a law
unto themselves, They would not brook inter
ference from United States officials nor any one
else. On the island during hts stay of a
year were the following employees of the Alaska
Commercial company Mr. Webster, principal
agent; Eugene Kirk. assistant agent Mr.. Clark
school teacher; DR.. Stultz DR.. Noyes, James
Hall, Cook and Mr.. Morgan,
Mr.. Webster had been 10 the company's en-
ploy twenty years. He was now 20 years of aga.
The witness recited at length difficulties he had
| had with sll Of these msn except Mr.. Morgan
| He had attempted. he sail, to inculcats better
moral tone among the people, to improve the
school system and In various ways TO lead the
people into the paths OF industry All his efforts
| he said proved futile because OF the all-pervad-
| ing influence of the Alaska Commercial com
pany's officials Mr. Gsvitt described the whois
isla nd a living house of prostitution, and when
| he nterfered he Incurred the hatred Ut Mr.. Web
| stsr and his men
He never, he said, expected to return to this
| country alive He read letter which he re
| garded as smacklng of blackmail from Mr.
| Tingle, treasury agent. This letter, Mr.. Gavitt
thought, int mated that il he appeared before
| the committee his character would be shown in
| bad light. Mr.. Webster, he testified, had told
| him before their differences arose that when
agents stood In with the Alaska company they
could receive two salaries but that good men
| never came back
Mr.. JeRries, attorney for the Alaska Com.
mercfal company, cross-examined Mr..
Gavitt He tried to show that as a govern
ment officer Gavitt was busy body, inter
fering with what did not concern him, and
asserting his official position in justification
| of his conduct.
George wardman who acted as government
agent from the latter part of May. 1881, to the
spring of 1885, stated that during his stay hi
hsd seen no maltreatment OF the natives ant
the outrages spoken OF had not been brought Il
his notice. He thought the condition Of III,
natives had been improved since the arrival O
the Alaska company.
T F. Ryan, special treasury agent from April
1885, to April. 1887, was the next witness exam
ined. He said that in his Judgment the stories o
frauds practioed by the Alaska company wer
false; and he thought that the contract Of tn
Alaska company with the government had beef
strictly carried out In regard to the outrage
committed upon the natives by officers Of tn
Alaska company and of the government he said
''The people az q rule very tinid. and govern
meut and company officers can do as the
please with them, but during my stay no CON
plants Of this character were brought TO m
|