The morning call., 1893-11-03
RETARD COMMERCE
Arbitrary Acts, of Alaska
Officials.
How the Sealing Schooner G. q.
Whites Voyage Was Broken
Up by Interference.

The sealing schooner c. G. White, Cap
tam Lauritzen, which arrived hero Tues
day from Sitka, completed voyage marked
by financial disaster. due partly to rough
weather early in the season, but mostly, 1t
is claimed, to unjust arbitrariness OF the
string of United States officers in Alaska.
The White sailed from San Francisco last
January, put in to Honolulu for water and
was compelled to enter and clear there.
Sailing thence for the Japan seas, she en-
countered rough weather and her rudder-
stock was so badly damaged that she had
to put into Yokohama for repairs. Tnere
she was required to enter and received the
United States Consuls certificate OF clear
ance. She sailed for Alaska and on the
voyage north caught 215 seals, the skins OF
which she transferred to the CZarlna TO Do
taken to Sand Point, the nearest custom
house.
For this act she was seized by the United
States steamer Petrol. 1t was explained
to her commander. Captain Dayton. by
both officers that this transfer was made
only for nienee, that the transaction
was duly entered in the logs OF the re-
Spective vessels. and it was suggested that
his common-sense would prompt him to see
that there was no intent to evade the rev.
eDue laws. if, indeed, the transfer was
technical violation. Captain Dayton re-
plltu IDdL Ub WOulQ SU lOI bue w Hllo On
general principles. and did so.
a. z. L0rentZen, managing owner OF the
White, gave the inside facts to CALL re-
porter yesterday. H. said: "The author-
ties at Sitka demanded bond of $4,000.
We furnished 1t promptly, and it was pro-
nounced a good bond by United States
Judge Morrow, but because some was
not crossed or some not dotted it was re-
fused by the Sitka officers. Then we sent
another bond, and the vessel was he Id two
months while the Judge was on vaca-
tion. At the trial, which took place Octo-
ber 2, the Judge rejected every proposition
offered by our lawyer. and sustained the
United States attorney. He now has the
case under advisement.
when the vessel was ready to clear for
home the Collector at Sitka learning that
she had a new rudder-stock put IN at \ o.
kohama held that the rudder-stock was
dutiable and threatened to seize the vessel
again and hold it until so per cent duty on
the rudder-stock should be paid. He ac-
tually did hold the vessel, and the captain
had to submit to it until friends of his in-
terfered and brought the Collector to his
senses.
'.The fact is the whole string of officers
from naval commanders down to the col
lectoIs of ports seem to think ii is their
duty to retard not 10 encourage commerce.
In the case of the schooner White, her
voyage was broken up and she lost whole
season in Alaska waters through unwar-
ran ted interference. No sensible man be-
lieves the court will fine the schooner for
transferring her skins to the Czarina, and
if to sustain the captain or the Petrol a
nominal fine should be imposed. it is GER
tain the court of appeals here Will reverse
the decision.
''As soon as a decision is made in the
seizure case we shall begin action against
| the Collector at Sitka for damages"