The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-09
RICH PICKINGS IN ALASKA.
q. 3. OoMMISsIoNER SMITHS METH
DDS IN SKAGWLY AND DYEA.

nt IL Charged That re Acted ne Land ReEister,
Cerener. supreme Judge, Justice OF the
Peaoo, Prosecuting Attorney. &C.. and EH-
torted Fees A"EgreEatinE Nearly 1000
WAsH1NGToN, Oct. s.-Tho Interior Depart
mont has received a number OF complaints re-
RardinR the unique methods employed by
United States Commissioner John II. Smith at
Dyea and Skagway. As n result, the
advisability Of removing him has been
considered, and q special inspector OF
tho Department Of Justice has been sent to
skaEway to investigate his career. He may DO
arrested II the reports prove true. 1t 10
estimated that nearly $4,000 in foes have
been obtained from the citizens of skne.
way by Smith and others. Smith was
appointed United States Commissioner on
July 8. 1897, and arrived at his post at Dyea
In July. The salary paid the Commissioner is
only $1,000. They arc permitted to take fees.
and Smith arranged 1t so that within two
months he gathered in as much in fees as his
whole salary for seven years would amount to.
When Smith reached Dyoa he was the only
Government official In that city or that neigh.
borhood. But the picking was not very good
in Dyea, SO he transferred his head
quarters to Skagway. where tho people
were pouring in by the hundreds. Tho
town had by this time about 1000 inhabi-
tants, and they were very anxious to enter
tho town site and register tho lots.
Smith. being tho only Government official
in the place. appointed himself q land agent
for tho registering of town lots, Coroner,
Justice Of the Peace, Corporation Counsel, Judge
OF the lower court and Of the Supreme bench.
and the Prosecuting Attorney. He was the most
influential man in the town. As an assistant he
had the Marshal of the village at his side and
divided the fees with him.
The first thing Smith did after opening out In
Skagway was to record town lots. For this. 1t Is
alleged, he charged a fee of SIS. and the Marshal
was allowed &c. so in addition. The law places
the maximum feo at 81 so to tho recorder Of
lots. Smith registered. 1t is said. in tho neigh.
borhood Of fifteen hundred town lots. charg-
ing S. apiece. and this netted him 81, 800.
while tho Marshal pocketed s.. ESQ. He then
notified the department of what he had done,
entries, and that he had taken the bull by the
ment reminded him that he knew perfectly well
that he was acting without authority. and that
entries OF town sites was also sent him.
Smith Is charged with acting in an unfair
mSon Mss n dro TsEsta in 70 sk kopRs FG RIVER OF H Se" ,ans
charge of Fowler's effects without inquest
and hold them until further notice. The
Smith his boys effects. whereupon he turned
over to the elder Fowler the money and other
substracted as "Commissionefs fee @4"0n Te enc
dollars OF. this went to the. Marshal. As
Justice of the Peace he let nothing go
by him.. A man Of the name of Johnston was
arrested and tried before Smith for assault with
a deadly weapon. Smith fined him $50 and
Smith and the Marshal. 1t is said that the only
record he made OF the town lot locations was in
q small notebook.
The Marshal is not an official OF the United
States and in fact. has no standing what
ever. There are no laws for elections in
Alaska, and all officials are appointed ,dt;
was elected by the Inhabitants OF Skagway to
preserve some semblance OF order there. He eX-
plains his relations with Smith by saying that
he Stands in with him." and the Department
heartily agrees that he does.
AS a result OF the action on the part of Smith
and others throughout the Territory the Land
Office will have considerable trouble when
the people wish to have their town sites
shall be entered at Washington when.
ever the people wish, but so far only a few en-.
s5ies have been made. SamonE them juneau.
Smith are worthless. as the people of Skagway
will find out when they come to have
their lands properly entered. The organic act
shall be the Recorder for the entire district of
the United States Commissioners at Una.
laske, Juneau. and Wrangell as Record
to those places. The Juneau district includes
all the country tributary to the Lynn Canal.
Tho act providing. for the appointment Of four
additional Commissioners. OF whom Smith is
Commissioners. The towns of Skagway and
Dyea both como within the territory OF the
Commissioner at juneau.
The other allegations made against Commits
sioner Smith have been ca led to the attention
OF Secretary Bliss, and the department expects
further orma regarding them.