The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-05-24
REVELATION OF APLOT.
How Wasson's Enemies Are Try.
ing to Have Him Removed.
THE COLLECTOR INTERVIEWED.
He Says the Statements Made Are
False and Malicious.
The Revenue Force lnad e aats to
Gsard the Loae Coast Line as Every
Point The Fsime Movers in the
Matter.
THE COLLECTOR INTERVIEWED.

Posr TowxsEsn, May 3-fSpecial. l.
Since Hugh Wallace recently telegraphed
the statement from Washington City that
no charges had been fled in the treasury
department against the collector of Gus
toms OF this district and the presidents
subsequent ultimatum that no Federal cifi-
GERS in the sta,e of Washington would be
disturbed unless serious charges were pre-
ferred and suhstant.ated. a systematic
effort to bes.nirch the character of the Gus
toms officers OF the district is being made.
Eumors have been put into circulation
that this or that officer was crooked" or
guilty OF oifenscs which, ii proven. would
send the official to the penitentiary.
For several monshs the Tacoma. Le dyer
has had reporters engaged in spying
around and getting secondhand informs
ton from unreliable sources. which after
horrible distortion would by innuendo
endeavor to besmirch the official repu,a-
ton Of customs officers in the Puget sound
district. For several months the Ledger
has had man in this city especially de-
tailed to hunt up incidents Of this ciIarac-
ter, which by Misrepresentation could be
made to appear IS savoring Of acts of
crimina!ity on the part of the officers.
An instance is cited in today's
Ledger under Tort Townsend date
line which insinuates tha: certain
customs officials are rohbing the govern
ment. II the "ssory" was probable a
criminal charge could be easily preferred
and the derelict official punished.
The latest rumor to be put into circula-
tion is that welI-known Port Townsend
steamer. the Enterprise. is engaged in
smuggling Chinese across from Victoria.
Collector Wasson said tonight that if any
vessel was sengaged on preservation Of any
proof he would gladly seize and have her
condemned. The steamer referred to is
worth abou: $780, and the informer in
such cases is allowed from - to 50 per
cent. by the government. Wasson SAYS
that he stands ready and willing to assist
in furnishing any officer in the service who
is guilty OF a criminal act and for any der
ELECTION Of duty he will dismiss the Of
fender from the service.
The collector OF this district, which em-
brace. the state Of Wash iugson and ex-
tends from Little Dalles, near the Idaho
boundary. to the outlet of the Columbia
river, near Astoria, has an available force
of fifteen officers tosssard q frontier Of
over :, $50 miles.
The total number Of revenue employees
in this district is forty-four. which in.
cludes deputies. clerk. inspectors and
boatmen a: the general Office and various
supports Of entry. The constant arrival
of vessels from foreign territory requires
the presence at Port Townsend, Seattle.
Tacoma and other ports of entry, OF q
force of inspectors. The two launches and
the revenue cutter Oliver Woicott are en-.
gagged in patroling the lower Sound by
night. The numerous islands, however,
afford excellent opportunities for tieet of
steam launches to cross over from
Victoria after night and land
herd Of coolies. Although constant
vigilance is exercised il is not 10 be ex-
recsed that opium and coolie smuggling
across the line can be etfectually checked
until the force of officers is increased. In
the district OF San Francisco, covering a
frontier of 215 miles. the collector has a
force of 3l5 officers. in addition to several
revenue collectors and one or two revenue
cutters. With these facilities to prevent
smuggling, there are more Chinese and
opium captured in the puge, Sound dis
irsc; than in San Francisco.