The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-29
Portland's Collector OF Customs
Hears Frem Cleveland.
ALLEGATIONS OF cRookEoMess
The Depcsed OAeer Says the Cause
for Dismissal Vas Manufactured.
Bss Kennedy. 1ranp Whishy SELLER.
Marders BritasA Celumbia Logger
Wreck sf the 1ealeF Aiaoka-Tresps
g Leave Puysnsp Rsservatioa.

WAsHIxGroy CRY, June oS-Preaident
Cleveland this morning summarily re-
moved from Office L1Otan, the collector of
customs at Portland. Or. This unusual
action was taken on the receipt this morn
ing Of q telegram from the special agents
of the treasury department. who have
been engaged for sone time investigating
the fraudulent practices prevailing in the
Puget sound aud Portland districts. The
telegram stated thar they had information
Of the intended landing at Portland Of .
large number Of Chinese coolies. Lotan
was summarily dismissed and his deputy
placed in charge. who will continue to act
until Black, the newscollectnr. qualities.
On June Is Collector Lotan, in disregard
of official instructions from the treasury
department. landed from the steamer Dam
ube about 80 Chinese. claiming to be mer-
chants. most of whom were described in
the official report 70 the department a. q
scaly and uncouth appearing lot Of coolies.
Chinese are now on board the steamship
Hsytian Republic en- route to Portland,
and it - believed by the treasury depart
ment that if Collector Lotan had been left
in Office he would have landed them with
ont regard to the law. as he did in the case
OF the Danube. As far back as March
Collector Lotan vas instructed by Assist
ant Secretary Spaudinx as follows:
IL has been asceysa aimed that mauy Chinese en-
ter the United Statse upon fraudulent papers
certifying them 70 b returning merchanta
You viii hereafter disrogard such papers and
refuse entry unlsss Il IL proved 70 your satis:ac-
ton that the persons presenting them have the
right TO land.
AA~A
have been landed At Portland upon bogus
sffidavits and certlfcases.
PORTLAND, June 4-The news from
Washington City this afternoon that the
president had summssily dismissed Col.
lector Of Customs James Lotan and placed
Deputy Collector Pike in charge Of the
Office was genuine surprise. inasmuch ~
Lo.an's successor had been named aud
will probably qualify on Saturday next.
When seen this afternoon rsgarding his
removal Collector Lotan said:
l received the dispatch from the department
at Washington City shortly hefego noon. In
struetirg mo 70 turn over the eoilscsofs once to
charge. think this whole afkals 10 at the insti-
cation OF the special agents OF the treasury who
wero sent 20 this Coast - work up trouble for
this ONCE Mr.. Cleveland haa stased that he
would remove M Repuhtz exespa foe eauaA
The facs OF the matter ID. thsy had no cause. and
consequently they had to fiud causa In view
OF the fact that on July would have stepped
out, II seems ~ II might have bee . allowed 70
retire in proper form.
Private information from Washington
City states that warrants will soon %
issued for the arrest of . number of GUS
toms officers and certain individuals who
have been connected with the smuggling
ring. 1t is stated that Secretary Carlisle
has announced his intention Of making
vigorous prosecutions, and will be actively
seconded by Attorney General Olney.
The steamship Haytian Republic was
seized today presumably by order of
Special Treasury Agent Wood. Nothing
is known of the arrest At the United States
marsha!'s Office. but complaint vii, proba-
oly be flied with the clerk of the United
States court tonight or tomorrow. The
ground for the seizure is not known, but il
is said to be the old charge Of smuggling
opium and Cinnamon.