The record-union., 1891-04-12
Special to the SUNDAY UNION.

WASHINGTON, April I1.-Max Pracht
has lost his position as Collector of Gus
toms for the Alaska district, and Edward
t. Hatch of Mccoy, Polk County, Or,
Il State Senator and well-known politi-
clan, is appointed in his place. This re-
moval, though contemplated some time,
has been kept quiet, because the Oregon
delegation wanted to secure the vacancy
for their own State. Pracht's appoint
nent was only secured after hard work,
and even then the Oregon Senators had
to fight for his confirmation by the Sem
ate. Pracht proceeded to his duties and
soon afterward the Governor of Alaska
decided that he ought to change the liquor
traffic regulations for Alaska in defer
ence to the popular demand in all towns
of the Territory.
Meetings were held, and they drew up
petition asking that they be allowed to
engage in the retail liquor business. AS
a result the Governor is alleged, in viola
ton OF the law, to have granted the peti-
ton at $3.50 per year, this sum to go into
a fund TO be known as the Street I'm
provement Fund. 1t was impossible to
carry on the saloon business very sue
cesstuliy without liquors, and Pracht, in
violation of law, allowed the importation
OF any and all kinds of liquors, the
amount and variety being dictated by the
demands Of the trade.
When this became known to the de-
partment, the Oregon delegation, which
was known to be friendly to Pracht, was
notified that he would be relieved very
soon, and they might as well prepare
themselves to meet the situation. Seeing
that it was no longer possible to hold him
in tho Inloaa tho Hnlanatinn Hnai6nH 70
press the claims of Hatch.
The Collector of the Alaska district, the
same as in all other customs districts, Sc
1ectS his own deputies, and they are ap-
pointed by the President. In the Alaska
district deputies are at the following
places: Mary Island, Wrangel, Juneau,
Sand Point, Kodiak, Ounalaska. 1t is
said that the new Collector is favorable to
allowing Pracht's deputies to remain, but
1t is thought by the department officials
that he had better make a sweeping
change.
Inquiry was made concerning the fate
that would oyertake the Governor of
Alaska, together with the other officers
who participated in the alleged violation
of the law. According to the general plan
agreed upon it is claimed that the Deputy
Marshal Of Alaska rather reluctantly re-
ported their Irregularities, after the Govern
ment authorities here had been appriSed
of the situation by some temperance peo-
pie in the Territory. This information,
furnished by them some time ago,
prompted the authorities to make in
quiries Of the Marshal, who, it is said, re-
luctantly gave the information.
1t is the general SuppOSitiOn that there is
not a Government official in the Territory
who viii escape official investigation,
and the result may be that Pracht is only
the first of a number of Alaska officials
hn will ha rnlinva1 Thorn io
speculation as to the disposition of money
received from licensing saloons in Alaska.
The authorities here are led to the con-
clusion that there are two or three hum
dred saloons in Alaska in full blast, each
acting under license of $3.50 per annum.
THE SENATE COMMITTEES TRIP.
WASHINGTON, April 1.-THE Senate
Committee on Territories has not yet
completed arrangements for visiting
Alaska, nor has it been fully decided
which members of the committee will be
able TO go. So far only Senators Platt
chairman of the committee), Butler,
Davis and Carlisle have determined
fully to make the trip. 1t is expected,
however, that Senator Stewart will join
them, while it is very doubtful whether
Jones Of Arkansas or Manderson of Ne
braska viii be able TO go, owing to per-
sonal matters.
The committee will not leave before the
last days of May, and, failing in getting
special vessel for their use, it has been
concluded that it possibly would be best
10 take one of the regular steamers, which
would enable the committee to submit to
the Senate the information desired con-
cerning Alaska at an expense much less
than would be incurred from a special
transportation service. This matter, how
ever, viii be determined upon early next
week, and it viii form the basis for max
ing definite arrangements for the trip.