HSTVESTIGATION OF THE FUR-SEAL INDUSTRY OF ALASKA. 145 



officer, in buying skins from the natives, who have ever since 1868 

 been selling "pup" and yearling sealskins which they have been per- 

 mitted to tan and dress for such barter, also fox skins. The following 

 specific permit declares that Mr. Lavender in "buying skins" from the 

 natives (he could buy from none other) was doing exactly what he 

 had a right to do and what every officer of the Government, and 

 visitor since 1868 to those islands, had done without objection from 

 anyone or challenge from the lessees. (Copied from Official Journal, 

 United States Treasury agent, St. Paul Island). 



Treasury Department, 

 Office of the Secretary, 



March 26, 1890. 

 Charles J. Goff, Esq., 



Chief Treasury Agent, 



Seal Islands, Alaska. 



Sir:* * * Until otherwise instructed you will grant the natives the privilege of 

 selling the pup skins allowed them by law, including such articles as they may trap 

 and kill during the winter, provided that no contraband merchandise or spiritic. s 

 liquors are received in exchange for them. * * * 



George C. Tichenor, 



Assistant Secretary. 

 A tr: e copy. Attest: 

 Henry W. Elliott. 



In spite of this official order (which gave Lavender a clean bill of 

 health), on Monday, July 23, 1893, Capt. A. W. Lavender was "re- 

 lieved" at St. George Island, under "order" of "Chief Special Agent 

 J. B. Crowley," dated July 20, 1893, who directs him to "surrender" 

 his office to his (see p. 156, Treasury agent's journal, Monday, July 23, 

 1893) "successor" (one Ziebach, who is both " docile " and subservient). 



These men, United States Special Agents Goff and Lavender, not 

 being "docile," were thus summarily deposed by Liebes (Tingle, Red- 

 path) and Elkins, the contractors, who, greedy to get all in sight, find 

 them in their way. The shame and pity of it, that such venal officials 

 "high up" should have been in control of this valuable public prop- 

 erty on the islands and in Washington. 



Since this summary deposition of Goff and Lavender was made 

 ostentatiously on the islands to the natives as well as to all the white 

 residents thereon by Liebes' tools, Tingle and Redpath, then the other 

 special agents, Murray and Nettleton, recanted, ate up their truthful 

 words of 1890, and mired themselves down in the shameful service of 

 those public enemies, whom they were supposed and trusted to con- 

 trol and curb. 



No man has, as a United States agent, been on these islands since 

 1890 up to the date of 1913, whom these greedy lessees and their 

 tools in Washington did not send there or else direct when there and 

 away from there. 



When the agents of the House Committee on Expenditures in the 

 Department of Commerce went up to these islands in July, 1913, the 

 first free and open examination was made of the condition of affairs 

 thereon, which has been permitted since 1890. 



This oppression, domination, and subornation of those United 

 States Tieasury agents by the lessees, which is so well illustrated 

 in these cited cases above of Chief Special Agent Goff and Assistant 

 Special Agent Lavender, becomes still more pronounced and offensive 

 in the following case. 



53490—14- 



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