144 INVESTIGATION OF THE FUK-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 



guilty also of having joined in with Special Agent Goff August 1, 1890, 

 in the same recommendation that the work of the lessees be sus- 

 pended for the public good, gets summarily removed upon a 

 trumped-up "charge," false and silly, the entries showing this are 

 as follows, to wit: 



On page 362 of the official record of the Treasury agent, St. Pauls 

 Island, the following entry is made by Assistant Special Agent S. W. 

 Nettleton, to wit: 



Tuesday, June 23, 1891. — The following official communications and 

 telegrams were received by Treasury agent and Maj. H. Williams be- 

 fore sailing from and while in San Francisco : 



Washington, D. C, May 21, 1891. 

 William H. Williams, Special Agent, 



Care of Collector of Customs, San Francisco, Cal. 



On the seal islands there are 2,371 salted sealskins, 1 1,255 of which are claimed to be 

 merchantable. Balance rejected skins. Deliver all to North American Commercial 

 Co., subject to future settlement. 



Charles Foster, Secretary. 



Attest: True copy. A. F. Gallagher. 



Washington, D. C, May 21, 1891. 



This is the "report" from Lavender, which caused his removal: 



United States Treasury Department, 



May 21, 1893. 

 William H. Williams, Special Agent, 



Care of Collector of Customs, San Francisco, Cal. 



Report from Lavender just received per steamer Bear that natives on St. George 

 Island were insufficiently supplied during last winter with food and fuel and conse- 

 qently suffered hardship. Notify North American Commercial Co. that at least 70 

 tons of coal will be required for that island during coming winter. 



O. L. Spaulding, 

 Assistant Secretary. 

 True copy. Attest: 



A. F. Gallagher. 



This stirred Liebes, Tingle, Redpath, et al., up, and they lost no 

 time in fixing up " charges," as follows. Their willing tool in the Treas- 

 ury Department sends the following improper dispatch in the light 

 of the department's orders of March 26, 1890, to wit: 



Washington, D. C, May 22, 1891. 

 William H. Williams, Special Agent, 



Care of Collector of Customs, San Francisco, Cal. 



It is charged that Special Agent Lavender has neglected his duties, has abused and 

 insulted Mr. Fowler, and also Dr. Herford, because the latter refused to give him 

 money to buy skins, that he has been engaged in buying skins, of which he has a 

 large collection. Investigate, and if he has skins in his possession, compel their deliv- 

 ery to company upon payment of a reasonable price therefor, to the natives. 



(Signed) O. L. Spaulding, 



Assistant Secretary. 

 True copy. Attest: 

 A. F. Gallagher. 



What were these "charges" which declared that he had been "en- 

 gaged in buying skins" of the natives, etc. ? — witness the following — 



The following order of the Treasury Department declares that 

 Lavender had not been violating any rule of the department, as an 



1 These were a series of "small pup" or yearling skins, taken by the old lessees in 1889, which were not 

 accepted by the new lessees in 1890; but when they were shut out by the modus vivendi from getting 

 more than 7,500 skins in 1S91 they reached out for them. — H. W. E. 



