The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-29
BRYANT A FIXTURE.
Charges Against the Inspector
Are Pigeon-holed.
PROTECTED az The OFFICIALS.
The stesmbeatmen Cenciuas That His
Boasts Are Well Founded-His-
tory Of the whitewash-

grounds. and who caused three days
investigation TO be made in March by
cpeclai Agent Cullom. at which time forty
or nifty sfsidavi;s were presented 10 sub
stantiats the charges made and the result
OF the Investigation sent to Washington
City. have concluded that the whole mat
ter has been pigeon-hoied by the treasury
ohciaIs. The men are beginning to be-
seve that Bryant knew what he was talk
ing about when be made the beast on the
street:
All the devils in hall cant &c. nae cut
OF this position"
They are determined not to let the mat
ter DROP but so many obstacles have been
thrown in their way by official red tape
that they are almost AZ loss how TO pro-
coed.
At regular meeting sn December
charges OF Official misconduct were pre-
ferred against Bryant, and his removal
from office was asked for by Puget Sound
Harbof, No. 10, OF Masters and Pilots.
The charges were Forwarded to supervis-
Ing Inspector General James A. Dumont,
and also to Secretary OF the Treasury Car
Isle. About month later instructions
we're sent 70 Inspector Birmingham, of
Secretary Richardson, OF Puget Sound har-
Dor. says that instead of investigating
them personally Mr. Birmingham sent
them TO Bryant. falling to send any word
TO the harbor. Mr.. Richardson con-
tinued:
Bryant denied every allegation made
and Birmingham Endorsed Bryantis report
and sent II 10 the supervising inspector
al xf -
Nothing vas heard of the matter for
long time and / was instructed 10 COM
municate with Inspector Birmingham at
San Francisco as TO what had been done
With the charges. He answered that hs
had sent the charges TO Bryant, that an
answer had been had from him which was
entirely satisfactory and that he had In
dorsed the same and sent II on 60 the
supervising inspector general At Washing
ton City.
"Unon receiving Bermingham's re-
ply the harbor sent word 10 the con-
grsssionai delegation, laying the mat
ter before them and asking them to use
their influence TO secure q proper invssti-
CATION. After considerable work by the
delegation and other influential public
men an investigation was ordered by
Secretary Carlisle, and on March II Special
Agent Culom began three days hear
ing. at which forty or fifty affidavits were
presented by various steemboatmen, sub
stimulating the charges made. The result
Of the investigation was SAINT 10 the secre-
tary of the treasury, and since that time
nothing has been heard of the charges.
Tie harb0r, after these attempts, con-
cluded that Bryant could not be ousted by
Investigations, and sought 20 bring GRIM
iual action against him In the United
States courts for having cefrauded the
government by riding free. paying noth-
ing for his meals and beds on the Sound
boats, and including those items in his
expense account 10 The government The
association claims to have witnesses who
heard Bryant say he did ride. eat and
sleep on the boats tree and charge the ex-
pense up Just the same, and thought he'd
Be fool If ha didn't, as the salary
was small and Uncle Sam was rich. The
suit would have been brought but for the
fact that the association had no way of
getting tho expense account OF Bryant
and finding out the exact times be charged
the government for riding. etc. On the
advice OF United States District Attorney
Brinker, wrote TO Supervising Inspector
Dumont and TO Secretary Carlisle asking
for a copy of the expense account of In
spector Bryant 10 use as q basis for suit
against iitn IN the United States court, as
Bryant falsified his account. To this re-
ceived this reply from Mr.. Dumont."
Mr.. Richardson here showed the follow
ing letter dated Washington City. May Is:
"Referring to your letter of the 10Th
inst. in relation TO certain charges your
association propose preferring at the ses-
sion of the grand jury to meet in Seattle
on the 9th prox., against w. J. Bryant,
local Inspector of huils, In which you ask.
"a ron say, at the advice fudge brinker,
United States District attorney. that this
Office furnish you certain dates and flg-
ures' regarding Mr.. Bryant's travelling ex-
penses on steamers running on Puget
sound, during the past two or three years,
l have TO advise you that the proper way
for Judge Brinker TO get the information
asked for is for him to obtain it from the
secretary Of the treasury through ths IN
termediation of the attorney general OF the
United States
This Office has no authority to furnish
such information either TO the United
States district attorney or TO your associa-
ton. except by direction Of the secretary
of the treasury
About week later the following letter
was received from the treasury Depart
nlsnt, dated Washington City. June 5:
.The department is in receipt of your
request 10 be furnished with the specific
datss during the last Two years when Mr.,
w. j. Bryant, local inspector Of bulls -
Seattle, has charged fares. meals and state
tue amounts charged. etc. IN order that
you may present the same 20 the grand
Jury in support OF charges against Mr.
RryAnt that he did not pay the fares for
MASSAGE. meals and stateFooEns charged IN
his accounts.
sIn reply you are informed that under
the regulations of the department, circular
No. las. September l.. is93, the documents
referred to ey you. TO be used in court, can
be furnished 20 court only. and on rule
OF The court requesting the secretary OF the
treasury TO furnish the same
Mr.. Richardson then went on 20 says
.sThe harbor would commsnce snit ~
once we're IL not for the red tare N con-
nsction Nth securing the data desired.
That some influence mast have been
thought TO bear apon the secretary OF the
treasury on BryAnts oeaaf before the
above letter from the department. vas
vY5ttea there can be no doubt. IS letter
written 70 me IN Washington City on May
N by the secretary of tue grand captain
OF haTbors says;
. .Rryaas hss bees ordered ~ TIRE secretary ef
~. tfessslrv ta appear with bic ecansea aid de-
s.ats hifssesf against the ehArxes N eas ~ fagss
$500 Harhos, 80 Ia This AE. CErtiss. assist
sat se~resafy ef tie treasury, tod KS q les
days aga
IL is the opinion Of many rrominsns
steam sstInsa that Dument and Berming.
ham are protecting Bryant. and that II Is
waste III time 70 endeayor 10 eeposs ham.