The Inspector Walks: Seattle’s Port Officer Cleared After a Five-Day Fight

IN FAVOR OF BRYANT.

Secretary Carlisle Dismisses the Charges at Dumont’s Recommendation.

He Considers the Opposition Based on Personal Ill Will of the Masters.

A special dispatch was received by the Post-Intelligencer last night from Washington City, stating that the charges preferred against Inspector Bryant, of this port, by Harbor No. 14 have been dismissed. The dispatch is as follows:

“Washington City, April 16.—Special. Supervising Inspector Dumont has made his report to the secretary of the treasury in the case of Inspector Bryant, of Seattle, with recommendation that the charges be dismissed. The recommendation was promptly approved by the secretary, and orders to that effect have been forwarded to Supervising Inspector Bermingham at San Francisco.

“From the evidence, it appears to Dumont he was inclined to think that the opposition to Bryant was based wholly on personal grounds, and that Bryant is a very efficient officer.

“The charges made against Bryant were filed early in 1894 by Puget Sound Harbor No. 14, of Masters and Pilots, and were investigated by Special Agent Dumont in March, 1894. The charges in substance are that Bryant was unfair and arbitrary in his rulings; that he allowed his personal interests to govern him in matters that came before him for adjudication; that, contrary to law, he used his office to sell provisions and other articles to vessels, and that he secured insurance business by the same methods; that he gave licenses to men who were incompetent and tried to withhold them from those who were legally entitled to them; that he was overbearing in his conduct and resorted to the methods of the bully and bulldozer in the transaction of the affairs of his office.

“These charges were fully investigated by Agent Dumont, and his report was sent to headquarters at Washington City. For a long time nothing was done in the matter, and the harbor came to the conclusion that the matter would be smothered by Bryant’s friends at Washington City. The harbor, however, was persistent in its endeavor to have Bryant removed, and placed the entire matter in the hands of officers of the National Harbor at Washington City and sent a large number of affidavits to substantiate the charges made. After many efforts the harbor did succeed in securing its object by having Bryant examined, which was held in this city on February 27 by John Bermingham, supervising inspector at San Francisco. The examination occupied five days and was fought out by both Bryant and the harbor over every safety valve.”