The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-05-29

Went to Washington City To straighten
Out Customs Regulations.


Taoonaa May 2g-5periai. Deputy Col
leetor OF Customs Henry Drum today tu-
ahorlzed denial OF the story published
In the Port Townsend Call Monday even
ing and teirgrsp1ed from there, tn the Ell
feet that Collector Saunders would tsalasz'
his resignation before he left Washington
City. where he Is at present. The Gail
story declared that Collector Saunders
went 10 Washington City In answer 20
an imperative telegram calling him there
and that his resignation would be the re-
RuN OF a recent investigation OF customs
house matters In which alleged vTolarnns
OF regulations had been discovered. Mr.
Drums name was mentioned as tins proha-
bic suecessssr OF Mr.. Saunders. MIR. Drum
said today:
There s. no fougl!a ton whatever for
ANY portion of the ssory. Mr.. Saunders
was not called to Washington City by any
communication. imperative or otherwtse.
So far from that. he asked permission TO
go there and II was in my office that no
wrote the communication 70 the depart
rnelrt making the request. As to the al
laged investigation OF the district asld the
work or the custom house. TsoaIe has beea
yrade other than the sern4-annual inspec-
tfon which special agents. give to all or
fees.
MIR. Saunders trip TO Washington Ci'y
was made 10 ooss.Ilt with the department
laaacsns The customs regulations under
which commerce is now beng carried on
are tnose promulgated la i1s2. with some
supplements and revisions. In many partic-
ulars they are ncs; up to date. and ny
reason of the advance IN commerce and
transportation. points are constantly arts
ing which, IL the regulations are carried
out are the cause of great loss and annoy
ance. Spesiai orders and permits are OFTEN
required by rvssaom of these obsolete reg
uiatAonr In sending East bonded c1Tgo.s
from Tacoma difficulties often arise that
are difficult 10 straaghten out ny codTe-
srondence. For instance. last week coal-
ssignnert arrived here from Victoria con-
e,stAnz OF three bales Of bear skins an
two casks OF ssabskine, all raw. They were
consigned TO New York and were TO ne
s.hfpped over the Northern Pacific rail-
road Tho skins were not dlHtAable but
had TO be cleared through the custom
house as if they were. The invoices ahd
bills OF lading had been sent on 10 New
York. There was no way In when the
goods could be released from bond except
by the Northern Pacific railroad sending
them forward under the Immediate trans
,.yr,atfou act I'm bond and In a sealed car.
As the consignment weighed only 200 or 500
hounds the road could not well afford 10
seal II UP by Itself In a separate car. The
only alternative was 10 send on TO New
York get an hoofssu Din oi fiiHhs' anu
enter the goods here. After some CORE
spontsnce a permit was received allowing
the slxsns to De sent forward under card
and seal.
before he left, Mr.. Saunders loaded
himself up on all these rro&ntS wherein the
regulations are defective and took the In
fprnat.va 70 Washington City 70 lay be-
fore the department. dfe VIII talk over and
explain the matter and Will efldeavor to
have the regulations amended 50 al TO
have n more mobile manner OF doing bus
mess put into effect. and To provide for
sreatiny exigencaes IN a speedy manner
az tiisy may ariss.'