The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-12-15

BY the Poss-Tntclligencer Alaska News
Syndicate.
SKAGUAY, Alaska, Dec. A party OF
klondikers who arrived here few days
ago. bound for Dawson. have made good
deal of talk about town because the Gus
toms officials at this place collected duty
on their outfits. which were purchased in
Victoria. The men making complaint were
W. H. Harrison. B. II. Ryan and Frank
Turner.
Investigation at the customs house, how
ever. showed that the men had nothing 10
complain of. They were told by Collector
Floyd that their goods would be passed
through TO the International boundary un-
der customs supervision. as provided by
the treasury department. but Harrison.
Ryan and Turner chose 10 pay duty rather
than pay a customs official Sc per day TO
watch the goods while in transitu. The
men made no objection to paying the du-
ties, and 1t was only after they had left
the customs house that objections were
made. and some friends of the men i'm
mediately wrote TO Collector Milne, stat
ing. it is alleged. that a customs inspector
to watch the goods while in transit was
denied them.
When Collector Floyd was seen by rep
resentaiiye Of the Post-lnteliigencer
Alaska News Syndicate he said:
This objection to paying duties on goods
intended for the Klondike country and
bought in Canada is parallel to the objec-
tions made this season TO paying duties on
horses purchased in Canada and landed
here. In that case l was instructed TO
pass the horses through to the interna-
tional boundary under customs super
vision. Now, a customs Inspector must
work about eight hours day in diseharg-
ing his ordinary duties but on The trail hs
must work at least sixteen hours a day.
and the compensation was placed at S.
per day Many of the men bringing in
horses and goods chose to pay duties rather
than pay the customs inspectors per diem.
/ have no choice IN the matter Goods pur-
chased in foreign countries must either
pay duty here or be passed through to the
international boundary under the super
vision of United States customs officials.
That is plain. Where the international
boundary Is located is another question
which bears upon that OF passing goods
through TO the boundary. We claim that
the boundary Is ten leagues from tide
water here; the Canadians claim that the
initial point Is on the coast and no. on
Lynn canal, and thus distance and time cut
quite figure in the payment OF a customs
official while guarding goods In transit. 1
have absolutely no authority to permit any
person to land foreign goods here and pass
them through to Canadian territory with
out paying duty and I propose to enforce
Alssx &hA A,xt7n ~ oh
designates.
II have besa as lenient as possible IN en-
forcing customs duties. In the case OF two
outfits recently appraised the value was
placed at s23s. while the duties paid
amounted 10 s55.36. The owners chose TO
pay the duty rather than pay for customs
supervision
Burns and McCoulay, OF Victoria, had an
outfit passed through last week over the
Dyea trail. Customs Inspector Mclean.
who was In charge, was absent nine days,
and he only went with the party as far
as Crater lake. The snow was 20 deep that
he felt there was no danger of the party
attempting to bring their goods back TO
American territory.
The skagnny Election.
The election on Saturday last to elect
seven "couneflmen'- was quite exciting.
The contest was spirited between the two
factions which suddenly spraBg into exist
eaee soon as an election WIS mentioned.
An independent citizens Ticket was nonni-
mated in opposition 20 the regular citizens
municipal ticket. and the opposition Sue
ceeded IN cipcting one man. The total
number OF votes polled was Cos OF which
1s were cast by ladies. Nothing like fun
vote was PEELED. many of the citizens TAX
ing little or no interest in the election.
Following ie the vote. the seven men re-
ceiElng the highest votes being declared
elected:
FL e. Battin, al: Fl. r. L,ttIeleId. SIS:
r. II. Clayson. sss; ]. Allen Hornsby. 3s1.
Frank T. Burns. s2s: J. Henry Foster, 2si:
Charles Sperry 25s: r. r. Clark 70: J. r.
Illly. 20: W. F. Saportas. I'll: J. II. Nc
Court. f7s; John Kalem, IFS; r. VI. Word
les.
Forty Tons for Dawson.
" NJ. Brooks has secured a contract to
transport forty tons OF freight from this
place 20 Lake Bennett for the Canadian
government.
Inspector of Mines James McGregor and
a party OF seven men left today for Tagisn
on their way 20 Dawson.
News has been received az the headausr-
ters of the Canadian mounted police here
that Major Walsh. administrator Of the
Yukon district. and party reached Tagish
house on November 8. Judge Mcclure. the
new justice OF the district, reached Tasish
on November d MAJOR w als1 Ieft skaxnAy
on October Is, and Judge Mcclure a few
days earlier.
skaGany's First Church.
The new Jrnion church. IN. FIRST Ia
skaguay. viii be dedicated on Sunday next.
The church building win also be used for
school purposes. The building of the first
Church ia this town is due largely TO the
sfgcrts of Rev. X. NJ. Diekey, young Pres
Sytsrlan clergyman. formerly OF Winnipeg.
Manitoba
W H. Hughes fermeFiy wsIi-kDown
citizen uf Seattle. bus naw Gli-hsdged
KIoadiker caure in from leg Cabins"
aFsaslt eight miles from Lake Bennett this
waek Sir. Hughes has been absent three
Faunsax on the trail, and succeeded In get
ting bis outft 70 "I.ag Cabins" where ils
- sat .ns8 winter quarters.
81 uvhE Ia