The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-01-23
adams Try to Collect Heavy
1)utiss at Lake Bennett.
...yf They a LEGAL RIGHT?
~urse Therp asked 10 Pss II"
x nm Thirty slaughtered
a.~xes Cached at the Lake hp-
.~>s. IN This Government for Fro
eeefton--Ofher Outfits on Lakes
aandeSuan and Benaest Taxes.

AZ sstsmp. hy Canadian customs Off
.tss to levy a cssfy of sIs head on
Aafy cattle slaughtered and cached at
faks Bennett has been blocked by Wills
nan. owner Of the beef. He claims that
d. meat vas slaughtered and is stored
= Americaa territory. and Will appeal 10
,A< united States government for pro-
,ees,on from wha. he considers an cx-
gfss,sni and Illegal tax. A letter from
NOR to Secretary Of the Treasury Gage
vss brought down by passenger of the
sangr City Of Seattle.
Lass November Thorp drove thirty
MAJ Of steers from ssaguay TO Lake
Bennett. where he slaughtered them. The
frpssea meat has been kept AZ Lake BEN
nj, ss8ce that time. 4 few days ago
rlorp received the following letter from
Noyshwest mounted police in the ssIkirk
Sssrscf whose headquarters are tempo
nnly located a; Dawson:
''5kaguay. January T. 1857.
Mr.. Thorp. Skaguay-SiT. | am re-
Gesied by the collector Of customs at
fASish 10 can upon you 70 pay the 3nty
namely SIS head or the thirty steers
Ts5 killed al Lake Bennett In ease OF
rsnssi 10 pay, | am requested 10 send
sss or lao men tn secure the beef. or
ntber sufficient TO cover the amount Of
vii you kindly refni, the duty as soon
= possible and oe'igeF - Yosrs , traly,
inspector. commd'g y. W. NJ. r."
10 this communication Thorp replied as
fsiicxs:
M E z Wood Inspector Command
eay received In which you demand pay
naai OF SIS duty per head on thirty head
Of steers killed by me al Lake Bennett,
ana ln which you also intimate your In
uation 10 send men and take, or seize
spcn. sufficient amount Of meat 10 cover
ssch duty, In case refuse 10 pay II. With
Due respect - you and your government.
] am under the painful necessity Of re-
ius.ns TO pay duties for the following
reascas
first Because I am an American csti-
rn and have killed the cattle referred
IL In the territory firmly claimed by the
un.iea States. aud these cattle are to be
used or disposed Of at ms place OF busi-
ress there. and are rot TO be used or sold
WITHIN your territory BY me-
"Stsond-Sixteen dollars per head Il In
srssss Of the legal duty tshould the
Jssied States fail 10 establish its claim
70 the territory in disnutel as the duty
should be levied. IL al all on live cattle
and not on dressed meats.
Il therefore request, before you seize
tie nleat as you intimate your intention
II dong. that you give ME time 10 lay this
natter ssfofe my government, that no
Notwithstanding shall result. Respect
sully WILLIS THoRP."
Thofp viii forward a copy OF the fore
sslng communication to The secretary of
he treasury. and he VIII ask Congress
mar Lewis to make a protest against the
saefoachments which, he alleges. Cana
asn officials are making on American
hsfisory Thorp claims that according
10 the survey Of Dominion Land Surveyor
William ogilyie Lake Bennett Is clearly
within American territory; that the Cana
dian government so understood II. and
esslcms house was, accordingly estab-
ishsa At Lake Tagieh. that poin; being
clearly within the Canadian dominion
The Canadian customs officials FIRST as
serted their RICH; 10 collect duties on
American goods al Lakes Bennett and
Ianderman a few weeks ago. when Col
hector CT Customs Godson. OF Tagish. made
tear Of the upper lakes and levied duties
vhsrsver he found American goods.
Herman Waechter. a Spokane cattle
man who also has a LOT of dressed meat
at Lake Bennett has been served with
netice similar To that on Thorp. He. too.
has declined TO be held az" as he ex-
Presses H. "ln American territory by
Canadian customs officials"