The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-07-26
THE AK DROPPED
Three Inspectors Relieved
From Duty.
Quantity of Opium Captured at
Ouarantine-Two Chinese
Arrested.

Saturday last was one of unusual
activity among the Custom House
employees. The day opened up bright
and beautiful but before the twilight
shadows of the trees on Quarantine
island had extended to Oceanic dock
two heads had fallen into the basket.
One inspector had rendered his resig-
nation and PIP pounds of smuggled
opium were in the strong room.
The discharge of Inspectors Groves
and Peters was due to their neglect OF
duty the result, perhaps, of their dis
like for Acting Surveyor Morton who
was put in charge by acting Collector
General McStocker. In speaking of
the changes Mr.. McStocker said, on
Saturday night:
81 consider Mr.. Morton a competent
and faithful officer and even if he was
not this office does not propose to con-
suit its ID or 16 guards and inspectors
as to who would satisfy them. If they
cannot comply with the orders issued
at headquarters then the door is open
for them to tender their designations.
interests of the Government and the
public, rather than for the men en-
ployed.
I'm the case of Mr.. Vida, question:
ed him regarding his connection with
the purchase of the Lena l.. and he
took exceptions to the questions. The
department reserves the right to queS-
ton any Of its employees as to their
motives or private habits, in fact in
any matter that would place the bu-
reau in position to be thoroughly ac-
quainted with the characteristics of its
officers. In this instance a customs
inspector together with an employee
of the police department purchased a
schooner that had arrived few days
previously under rather peculiar cir
cumstances which pointed to its hav-
ing been engaged in the smuggling
trade. To me it seemed reasonable
that the officials of the department
should have some light on the trans
action but Mr.. Vida objected and his
resignation was asked for"
The rather brilliant ending to an
otherwise unpleasant day was the cap
ture of opium at the Quarantine Sta
ton due to the good judgment dis
played by acting Surveyor Morton and
Clerks Biknell and Burnett.
1t seems that Acting Collector Gen.
eral McStocker has for some time
been in receipt of information from a
reliable source that opium was pass
ing quarantine. Some time ago he
thought he had the parties as he re-
ceived direct information regarding
certain trunks. But he missed the
prize and the trunks were afterwards
caught by the Quarantine officers.
This failure is said to be due to the
fact that no general search was made
by the Customs officers, they combining
their search to the designated pack
ages.
1t was tipped to Mr.. McStocker that
the Chinese had some means by which
they eluded the vigilence of the Gus
toms officers and he determined to
change his plans and base of opera
tions. After a consultation with Sur
veyor Stratemeyer it was decided that
the latter should go to Quarantine as
picions of the Chinese or confirm any
they might have. Messrs. Morton, Bick-
nell and Burnett were instructed to go
over to where the people from Quaran-
time came ashore and there to look
for certain packages but
to make close search of any similar
packages.
In carriage load of Chinese came
also several baskets and on searching
these PIP tins of No. 1 Hong Kong |
opium were found. Two of the Chin
csc were Immediately placed under ar
rest and booked at the Station House
on a charge of smuggling. One OF
them was one of the guards at the sta
ton. Credit is due the Customs en-
ployees engaged in this haul, for their |
successful capture and the good judg- |
ment displayed in following up the