228 FUR-SEAL FISHERIES OF ALASKA. 



Q. Do you happen to remember whether as late as 1882 there was a 

 collation made of all the Treasury letters, circulars, and decisions, 

 which was compiled by Mr. Otis, and sent to the Treasury Depart- 

 ment? — A. I think there was. Otis was a martinet in some respects. 

 He collated the letters and circulars issued by the Government to its 

 agents in Alaska. 



Q. Have you read the articles which appeared in the New York Sun 

 of December 12, which purports to be an interview with ex-Special 

 Agent Kimmel in relation to the seal islands of Alaska ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Please state to the committee whether that statement, purporting 

 to be made by Mr. Kimmel, is a true one. — A. Some parts of it is true. 

 He says the Alaska Commercial Company is the lessee of the seal islands. 

 That is true. 



Q. Is there anything in the statement that is not true ? — A. Yes, sir. 



Q. Please point out those portions of the statement which are not 

 true. — A. He says that the Government agent is supposed to see that 

 the terms of the contract are properly enforced and carried out, the 

 natives fairly treated, and to see other things done, but that he has no 

 power to enforce his orders. That is not true ; he has complete power 

 to enforce his orders. He says, "The worst thing about the natives i& 

 their complete helplessness." That is not true. He says, " The natives 

 have no rights except such as the company's employes choose to allow 

 them." That is not true. He never reported to me anything about the 

 teacher's being drunk. 



By the Chairman : 

 Q. I think there was an intimation or statement to the eflFect that the 

 company intimidated the natives, or they were afraid to make com- 

 plaints. Did you observe anything of that sort"? — A. No, sir; I never 

 knew of anything of the kind. I Avill say in relation to the school, that 

 his report to me was that it was not kept the required length of time, 

 and he reported it to me as I reported it to the Government. He never 

 said anything about the teachers being drunk. He did report that a 

 man wanted to go down to Oonalaska and I would not let him go. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 



Q. Is there anything else in that interview which you wish to explain, 

 or which is not true? — A. No, sir. I do not know anything about an 

 attempt to blacken his character. 



Q. What would happen if an agent or employe of the company would 

 refuse to obey the orders of the Government agent ? — A. I should re- 

 port him to the Department at once. 



Q. Take St. George Island — supposing Mr. Kimmel in charge of St. 

 George Island — was it his duty to report to you if an agent of the 

 company would refuse to obey any order of the subagent "?— A. Yes, 

 sir. 



Q. Have you ever known of an instance of such refusal ? — A. Never. 



Q. Was this report that was spoken of in this interview that is re- 

 ferred to a written or a verbal report ? — A. It was a verbal report. 



Q. When he made it was there any complaint made as to the con- 

 duct of the company's agents on St. George Island or anything about 

 the demoralization of the natives? — A. Nothing at all. 



Q. What did he say to you in that report as to how things were go- 

 ing on in St. George Island? — A. I do not remember. Mr. Wardman 

 u.si'd to make a report to me once a year. 



Q. From what he said to you in that report what were you led to 

 believe as to the condition of affairs on St. George Island during his. 



