FUR-SEAL FISHEEIES OP ALASKA. 337 



give it now, but it is several liuudred, including natives. The popula- 

 tion of Sitka, as I understand it, is mucLi less than fo^Inerl3^ 



Q. Would it answer the purpose if the judge who holds the court at 

 Sitka should be authorized or required to hold a term of court once or 

 twice a year at Ooualaska"? — A. The difficulty with that arrangement 

 would bo in securing transportation between Sitka and Oonalaska. At 

 present there is no regular transportation between the two places, and 

 communication can be relied on only by way of San Francisco. 



By Mr. Jeffries : 

 Q. Would it be well to have a Government agent on each island 

 clothed with the power of a magistrate? — A. 1 do not think there is 

 any occasion for it. The special Treasury agents now liave the author- 

 ity of justices of the peace, not by law, but by direction of the Secretary 

 of the Treasury. They try causes and impose penalties, and, so far, the 

 system has given satisfaction. 



Thursday, January 10. 

 The committee met at 2 p. m. for the purpose of recalling Mr. William 

 Gavitt, who had been subpoenaed by wire on Tuesday, the 8th. Mr. 

 Gavitt not being present, the committee adjourned until Friday at 11 

 o'clock. 



Friday, January 11, 1889. 

 The committee met pursuant to adjurnment, and the chairman laid 

 before the committee the following telegram, dated : 



EvANSViLLK, Inc., Janiiar;) 9, 1889. 

 To J. H. Lekdom, Sergeant-at-Arms, House of Bc2jrcscntativ(s, Washuujton, D. C: 

 Will arrive in Washiugtou Sunday. 



William Gavitt. 



The (Chairman. The Chan- will state to the committee that the sum- 

 mons to Mr. Gavitt to appear before the committee was for the sole 

 purpose of giving him an opportunity to reply to the facts testitied to 

 by the witnesses, Dr. Lutz and Mr. Kirk, as to certain conversations 

 they had with him and which seemed to imi)each his integrity as an 

 ofdcial of the Government. The Chair thought it was an act of justice 

 that Mr. Gavitt should have an opportunity to place upon record his 

 denial of such conversations and such explanations as he desired to 

 make of it. It is immaterial for the purposes of this investigation, for 

 it is a subject for the action of the Secretary of the Treasury and not a 

 subject for action by the H(mse of Representatives; and while the facts 

 testified to are important as reflecting upon the integrity of Government 

 ofiflcials administering the subject under consideration by this commit- 

 tee, it is a matter for the action of the Secretary of the Treasury and 

 not for the committee. Therefore, considering it in counectu)n with 

 this investigation, it is not of material consequence that we slioukl de- 

 tain witnesses here and keep this investigation open, for Mr. Gavitt 

 can make his showing to the Secretary of the Treasury just as well as 

 if he appeared here and testified. 



It is also kuown to the Chair that within a few hours after the sum- 

 mons was sent to Mr. Gavitt, on the 8th, he sent a personal telegram to 

 9981 22 



