The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-20
SENATE CONFIRMS WALLACE
TILLMAN'S REQUEST FOR EARLY
ACTION ACCEDED TO.

He RECALLED the senate With the
Story of the Blind Tiger in the
Custom House and the Conversion
of the Cistern Into One Big Cock
taiI-Depew Assists in story Tell
ing-ToIbert Crowd to He DISMISS
ed From the Custom House.
Washington, April 19.-Col. Wallace of
Sumter Is now collector of the port of
Charleston. His nomination was confirm
ed by the Senate in executive session to-
day at the instance of both of the South
Carolina senators.
During the day Senator Tillman received
number of kilograms from prominent
business men in Charleston, urging prompt
confirmation of Collector Wallace.
Senator Tillman explained to the Senate
the circums tances of Collector Wallace's
appointment, and the senators were great
ly entertained by his recitation of the
story of how former Collector Tolbert and
his deputies converted the Charleston Gus
tom House into blind tiger" and upon
being discovered by the state officers, de-
stroyed the central band liquor by dumping
1t into a sewer in the basement of the
Custom House.
Senator Tillman amused his associates
by relating to them how the Custom House
officers had unintentionally brewed about
$1,000 gallons of rum punch which is now
on draft in the cistern which supplies
the Custom House with drinking water.
In trying to get rid of the liquor the vio-
lators of the state laws emptied the casks
OF whisky wine and rum into the sewer
supposing the liquor would flow out into
the harbor. and perhaps into the shrimps.
sea bass and other fish which abound in
the harbor.
There appears to have been leak in the
sewer, SO that the liquor flowed into the
cistern, which supplies the Custom House
with drinking water, thus polluting the
water supply and rendering IL unfit for
use.
Depew and the Blind Tiger.
Senator Depew. in supporting Senator
/ Tillman's request for prompt confirmation
of Collector Wallace, entertained the sem
ators by relating his experience as a par
ticipant in the capture of a blind tiger
in Charleston harbor, on the occasion of
the visit of the Gridiron Club TO Charles
ton last New Years day. So interesting
was the narrative that Senator Depew
was obliged to give further details of that
memorable invasion of Charleston by the
Gridiron Club ably assisted by Senators
DtprW ana truman ana representative
Champ Clark of Missouri.
Collector Wallace, accompanied by
BOSS" Webster, had an interview with
Senator Tillman before the Senate went
into executive session. Mr.. Wallace says
he will have no difficulty in furnishing
the $4,000 bond required. He is president
of bank, also interested in a telephone
company and cotton factory and is pre-
pared to give bond without delay and take
charge of the Custom House
what Wallace VIII Do.
In his interview with Secretary Gage
Collector Wallace requested permission TO
take one day off each week from his Off
cial duties to look after his personal bust
ness interests. After the situation was ex-
planned, Secretary Gage realized that Col
lector Wallace Is making something of a
personal sacrifice in accepting the collec-
torship. and accordingly granted the re-
quest.
There is to be a general overhauling of
the Gus tom House force appointed by
former Collector Tolbert, and 1t is under
stood that all of the latter's appointees
are to walk the plank This means the
decapita ton of Deputy Collector Osten-
dorf and the rest of the Tolbert crowd
Collector Wallace is troubled over the
disposition of the $4,000 gallons of rum
punch in the cistern.7 He VIII probably
have it pumped out and pipe all the fish
in the harbor to free grog.