Valdez weekly prospector., 1909-01-28
GEORGE BARRACK
 JARS BUREAUCRATS

Would you like to hear how George Barrack stuck up the United States government and made it suspend the federal statutes as accumulated in a stack of books that would overflow a wheelbarrow, just to give him wit ness feesH
 In Valdez it is unnecessary to ex- plain that George Barrack is min ing magnate and postmaster-general at the fourth class office near the northwest corner of Latouche island Recently MT. Barrack was subpoe- naed to dance attendance on the ses- siOns of the United States district court at Seattle to tell what he was supposed to know about the case of one Parkhurst, indicted upon the charge of frisking the First National Bank of Seattle for few tens of thousands while acting as teller George waited around until the case was continued until April and then went O United States Marshal Hop kins for his compensation. Where upon the following proceedings took place. MT. Hopkins loquitur:
 ''Mr. Barrack, you are a postmas- ter up in Alaska, are you not?"
 'SYes, Pm a first class postmaster at a fourth class office called La touche."
 Well, under the federal fee bill, , being federal officeholder you are entitled only to your actual expenses. How much have you spent for neces- sary expenses since you left home?"
 Just Boards Around
 " I don't know just what l have spent. have been boarding round like a country school ma'am, and I havn't kept any books. Do you in clude wet groceries under the head of necessary expense?"
 "The statutes makes no provision for that and don't think it would be ellowed.'
 "How does it come that don't get regular fees?"
 Because you are a federal office- holder"
 Argument with Marshal Hopkins proved unavailing, although he is a very pleasant gentleman, so Postmas- ter Barrack sought out District Attor- ney Todd, whose office force dragged out law books and read from them and piled them up on one side of the room until they couldn't pile any higher, and tried to make George be- lieve he had only actual expen- ses coming, all because he hands out few letters to the miners of La touche island.
 Then Postmaster Barrack appealed to United States District fudge Han ford in person and the judge told him the law had been handed to him right. Then MT. Barrack made the following offer:
 Makes Liberal Offer
 "Well now, Judge, when come down in April if you will fix me up a tent with plenty of beans and little side of meat and some coffee and canned milk think I can save the government some money. Pm a fair cook and have bached a good deal"
 "No, Mir. Barrack," said the jurist, "the next time you come down l would advise you to stop at the best hotel in town. The government will pay the freight if you do."
 Still George kept stirring up his troubles until he induced some offici' al to wire to the department at Wash ington and an order came back to pay the Alaska postmaster regular witness fees, icluding mileage.
 Then the wise men got the worst of it again by getting too cautious. On the way to Seattle on the Portland MT. Barrack secured table of dis tances from Capt. Franz Moore of the steamer Portland. He offered this to the official timekeeper of the mar. shal's office but that person would not take 1t, insisting on wiring to somebody in Tacoma who was sup. posed to know 1t all. That person wired back that the distance was 178t miles, about 200 more than George claimed, and George got the money on the other fellows figures.
 Humphrey Keeps Trying
 Washington, Jan. 2s-- Congressman Humphrey of Washington is making