Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-05-31
RECENT HISTORY
AS RELATED 81 COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL
REVENUE WHITE.
HIS Version Of the Trouble Between Himself and
Judge Jackson, Of the Federal Court
Inadequate Facilities the Cause.

For some little time past IL has been
rumored around the city that about the
time of the Inauguration of the recent
term of the United States Court In tins
city, there was very serious difference
between Judge Jackson, of the Federal
Court. on the one hand, and United
States Collector OF Internal Revenue
A. B. White, on the other, which differ
ence bid fair at one of its stages to re-
suit in somewhat interesting proceed
ing on the part of the Judge, brought
about through the refusal OF the Col
lector to permit what he conceived TO
be very serious encroachment on his
rights within the Federal building in
this city.
This conflict OF authority was, per-
haps, the natural outgrowth OF the very
inadequate facilities for the transaction
of business in the several departments
at the Custom House. The United
States Court and postal departments,
as well as the Collector, need much more
room.
With a view to learning the facts In
the case. so far as statement from Mr..
Whites standpoint would disclose them,
as well as OF ascertaining the present
situation, reporter OF the REGISTER
Thursday called upon Collector White,
at the Hotel Windsor, and asked that
gentle man for his version Of the diff
Guilty. In reply Mr.. White said:
"The trouble is about at an end, at
present. although am going 10 Wash
ington City, to lay the facts before the
authorities there and see how they re-
gard the matter, and also ascertain what
relief can get. The conclusions to
be reached by the Department will, OF
course. largely or entirely, determln e
nv course in the future. The trouble
grew out OF the changes made by the
contractors in the Custom House, and
the course OF Judge Jackson in connec-
ton Herewith, he insisting upon hay-
ing separate Office for the Clerk
of his Circuit Court, 10 the
great detriment Of the Internal
revenue department. Soon after took
hold OF the Office of collector, Mr.. Sep.
Hall, my deputy, wrote to me that they
had torn out one OF the partitions, and
had turned things tOpsy-turyey gener-
ally, and in response TO his request and
the information he supplied, / came up
to Wheeling. | found things in pretty
bad shape, and saw that something
would have To be done for my own pro-
lection. As you know, ! give heavy
bond. and you are also aware that dur
ing the busy season tire are many
thousands OF dollars worth OF stamps,
etc, more or less exposed in the Office
during business hours. With but two
rooms at my command, after the parti-
ton had been torn out. there was moth
ing left for me to do, but 10 remove a
part OF the business to Parkers-
burg, for safety, and at the same
time to make representations to the
Department as to what was going on.
The people at Washington had not then
awakened to the fact that the contract
ors were n set OF sharks, and a result
| was forced to do what had never been
done before in West Virginia-remove
the special license branch Of the bust
ness to Parkcrsburg, after Mr. larllng
had broken down under the strain i'm
posed upon him Of trying to transact
business in rooms not adapted TO his
needs. and with the windows and doors
off and out, exposing him to all sorts OF
weather, and practically without shelter.
/ made application for other quarters,
but this met with no response.
Things ran along until the United
States Court people arrived. when Judge
jackson informed the officials in the
revenue Office that he proposed to take
one of the rooms, or a part OF one OF
them, for the Office Of the Clerk of the
Circuit Court. | demonstrated. as did