The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-24
SAUNDERS IN CHARGE
WATSON Turns Over His Office
to the New Collector.
THE LETTER OF DISMISSAL.
walter Bowen Il the Chief Deputy-Ex.
Marshal Browne Case-8peelal
Agents Charges.

Posr TowSsExp, June 23-TSpecisi. J.
At 9o'clock this morning James c. Saun-
ders slipped into Andrew Wasson's private
Office At the custom house and presented
his commission as collector Of customs and
rendered the collector the following letter:
EXECUTIVE MANsIoS.l
wAsHIxuToS ClrY. Nay -. 1893.
Mr.. Andrew wassou, Port Townsend,
wash.-SSr: You are hereby removed from
the ONCE OF collector OF customs
the state OF washinxton, TO take effect upon the
appointment and qualification Of your sue
cessos. GRovER CLEvELAND.
J.G.C.
When WATSON had concluded reading
the presidents letter and extending con-
gratuiations to Saunders his morning mail
was laid on the desk. and here is one OF
the letters he received from the depart
ment-the first official information that he
had of.his removal:
TREAsuRY DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE o. COMMISSIONERS o. CUSTOMS.
June Is. 1898
M. Andrew WATSON, Port Townsend, wash
Sir: Mr.. James C. Saunders hsvfng been ap.
pointed to the once OF collector OF customs for
the district OF Puget sound, state OF Washing
ton. and having duly qualified. you will deliver
TO him. ON application, all the public property
In your possession, together with the forms,
books Of entry aud instructions relating to the
duties Of the Office with which you. Is collector
OF customs, have been furnished by this depart
ment: Tor all OF which you will take duplicate
receipts, specifying every article, and forward
one of them to the secretary OF the treasury.
Very respectfully yours,
WILLIAM PCGH,
Commissioner OF Customs.
The hour agreed upon by the old and
new collectors to turn tho office over was
3o'clock this afternoon. WATSON imme-
diately commenced preparations to sur
render the district to his successor. All
property, papers, ETC., was carefully listed
and got in readiness for the new incum-
bent. At the hour agreed upon Collector
Saunders went to the custom house and
officially assumed charge of the district.
His first official action was to appoint
Walter Bowen special deputy collector.
vice A. A. Plummer. resigned. Saunders
and Bowen then commenced to check OF
and receipt for the governments property.
Patsy O'Brien, ex-local agent of the
Coast Seaman's Union. was appointed
customs boatman. vice Peterson. resigned.
Saunders requested all deputies who had
designations to take effect at once to re-
main in Office until July I or Is.
The best of harmony end good nature
prevailed between the retiring and incom-
ing officials. WATSON, Plummcr and other
officers willingly impaired to their success
sors all the available information and
advice At their command.
1t is certain that WATSON would much
prefer TO see Saunders his successor than
any other Democrat in the state The two
men are closely associated in business and
are the best Of friends. When WATSON
learned that his successor was to take
charge of the duties today he teicgraphed
the deputy collectors at the supports Of
entry to close their business up TO last
night and send in their reports forthwith.
All customs business commencing today
will be under the supervision of Collector
Saunders. Collector Saunders said to the
observation-disclosures correspondent to-
night:
was much surprised t. receive orders from
the treasury DEPARTMENT today TO take charge Of
tire district at once. intended to delay the
matter until July l. My banking business il
not IN proper coa:ttion, either. to warrant nv
leaving IL TO take this government Office before
the nrst OF the month. Intend TO I'LL the va
caaeies in tho service fast a. ths officials
determined upon single outside appointment
J. ". Clay. Of Birmingham, Ala. a
banker. will arrive on Saturday to take
Saunders place in the Commercial bank.
The following officers rendered their
reslgnations today TO Collector WATSON:
speeial pepa;y n Piammer.
Deputy CollcS,o. c. u. Perkins
pspGIy Collector II. l. Ba:kesk
C,e-k T. : Hammond
bepu:y Co!ec;o- L {. Calhoun
Inspectors Harry saith and j. H. Peterson.
d patty Cas.ec;o. c Z. Dalton. q, south Bend
wsc tslegfapAci bis resignation 20 MASON u .
afternoon
All Of the designations are TO take esF.c,
Immediately and were accepted.
Several po,iticions pa: in appearance
today 10 push their claims Tor recognition.
They are coming in from all directions
and backed by al kinds Of political in.
i.uence.
]. Tenant S,eeh. OF Tacoma. was on
hand bright and early this morning To
push his candidacy for tie deputy collect
eEsh.p at that port. He na,. an in:erviex
with Collector Saunders and EXPRESSED
himself rs entirely satisfied xi.a hi. pros
poets. His friends offer 20 wager odds on
hts getting the appointment as agains; the
fed. SEeea Is familiar with the customs
regulations and has had many years ex.
rersenee a. . ship broker.
Waiter Rewen. the new deputy collector. vss
eo's II wsyrea county, Va. ia i.so where 70
ras educated. Ia fs-s &c vens {, Wall s,-ee.
Nee fesK city. y y, where &c Was engages. AZ
eooSsee?er Tor whe~sisy. uia!a..s a Co for
Eve yc.r he thea removed 10 los Sare.s,
Cal. saa vas EN- psoyed by tie Southern P4e.. :
faissead aaa by tie d.ssrsc; attorney a. book.
ke<re- 10: tAres years Bavea taen rssnoye..
TO Noze eouniy. Cal. WHARF he eags<s. in tie
rsseAaisss easire~o and ra3sln< nearly fear
ysasA Ia ISL be came 20 wasssartoa ara
located ss Fort 1oscs<r1. vaess he hss ~