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WBUOTHfOUNelaWUfrieMONTRfn 
 MONTORAL CITY MBRAHY 
 
 ^i(^, RUE SHERCRri^KE EST 
 MONTREAL H2L 1L9 
 
 SALLE &/nwii%#H 
 
 PRIVATE MEMORANDUM 
 
 .•* 
 
 Regarding the Position of the undersigned in the Customs Service at Montreal. 
 
 The undersigiuHl entered the Service as aTidewaiter in 18G0 ; was appoint- 
 ed a clerk in the Collector's office in 1808, to assist in the correspondence^ and 
 jreneral otiice work; the ai^pointment was conlirined in July, 1860, sinct^ which 
 date the writer has, practically, discharged the functions oi" Collector's deputy, 
 or assistant, by giving not only personal attention and thought to the most 
 important correspondence, but aid in the most important administrative work 
 of the Collector's office. In Novemf)er, 1873, the undersigned had his salary 
 increased to $1,000 per annum, V)ut has never made any progress since, in the 
 way of emolument, although the testimony of facts will, he thinks, indicate that 
 the natiire of his work steadily increased in importance and usefulness. The 
 follovvin<»" are some of the written opinions of his superiors anent this matter : — 
 
 The Hon. Sir Leonard Tilley — to whom the undersigned owes his appoint- 
 ment — was good enough to write to him as follows, under date the 5ih January, 
 1871 : "1 wish you every success in life, to which your tatents and application 
 '• entitle you to look," &c., &c. 
 
 On the 3th April, 1873, the honorable gentleman, then Minister of Finan«-e, 
 very kindly waote as follov\ s : 
 
 " I will very gladly express to my successor (Hon. Dr. Tupper) the value 1 
 
 • attach to your services, and the faithful manner in which you have discharged 
 •' them entitling vou to his most favorable consideration. # * * # 
 
 • I will always be glad to hear of your advancement in the Servi<e."' 
 
 In June, 1873, Mr Collector Delisle recommended that the writer be 
 authorized to take bonds and administer oaths ff)r (Uistoms i)urposes, so as to 
 assist him in that respect also, and further, recommendi-d his i)romotion to tlie 
 rank of Secretary in the Customs, stating : " In the absence of the Collector from 
 " any cause, he is represented bv his chief clerk, and Mr. O'JIartt. a clerk, f/t>fs realtiy 
 almost (ill file business oj the Co/lector himself.'' 
 
 In September, 1875, an enijuiry was held into the administration and affairs 
 of the Montreal Custom House; the Commissioner called upon every ofKcer to 
 state what he «'onceived his duties to bi>. prior to ascertaining how he performed 
 them. The writer's statement was as follows : 
 
 " My duties have been for a number of years past, and are, I conceive, to 
 ■ carry on the correspondence of this office under the direction of the Collector, 
 •• and lo assist him generally in tlv tonduel of lhehimne<s of the Port.'" 
 
 
Mr. Collector Simpson, in haudiiio- to thi' CN^mmissioner (Mr. Duiiscoinb) 
 those sstalomiMits, on the 14th Septombor. l87o, thoui>-ht proper to iMulorso the 
 under.sig'utMl thus : 
 
 " In my o|>inion, the proper person to aet pro Collet-tor is his contideiitial 
 " olerk or Secretary, lor he beyond all others is best ac<iuainted with the bnsiness 
 •• of the Collector's office, and the mode in which the Collector desires it to be 
 •' perl'ormed." 
 
 .^nd. again, nn<ler the head " The Collector's Secretary,"' he wrote : 
 
 •• 1 cannot ))ut admire Mr. (KHara's modest statement of his dnties, and 
 
 ■ particularly so when I consider tlw varied charari(>r of his work and the 
 •• method with which he performs it ; in fact, he has soidentiiied himself with 
 
 ■ the Colle(;tors olhce and made himself so ijitimately acquainted with its 
 ■• ramilications. that I consider lie alone should represent the ColhMjtor during 
 
 • his temporary or unavoidable absence. Mr. O'Hara only ranks as clerk on the 
 •• books of the ollice, but has been promised by the Minister of Customs to be 
 " promoted to the rank of Seoretaiiy. with, I trust, an increa.se of salary." 
 
 Reference to Mr. Commissioner Dunscoinb's report will show his opinion. 
 The report is a sealed book in the office of the Commissioner of Customs. 
 
 On the r>th June, 1878. the undersigned was oiiieially desired to assist in 
 the duties of .\(!ling-Collector, by Mr. Collector Simpson ; and. in September 
 last, in the absence of the Surveyor of the Tort, was placed in charge of the fort 
 by Mr. Collector Simi)son, during his temporary and tmavoidable absence. 
 [See letter ol" instruction hereto attached. 
 
 The foregoing will, X\\k^ undersigned hop;^s. indicate, to sonu^ extent, to the 
 lion. Minister of Customs and the (rovernment. th ' nature of his position of 
 service here— namely, that he has b;'en for nearly ten years past, to all inlents 
 and i)urposes, Assistant or Sub-Collector of the Port of Montreal, and was called 
 upon to furnish a large portion of the thought, labor, judgment and busine.ss 
 knowledge — as well as th(^ greater part of the desk drudgery — necessary to rhe 
 administration of the Colleetoiship of the chief port of this Dominion — a larger 
 share, indeed, than he could, perhaps, expect credit for. however ordinarily just 
 or generous his immediate superior might be in his representations to the 
 Department on sm-h a subject. He that a« it may, the fact ought to be well 
 established now, thai the administration of the office of Collector at this port 
 calls for more actual work than one man. unassisted, can cop.' with, no matter 
 how able or assiduous he may be — whereas, the intei'osts of tlie service re([uire 
 some time for the exercise of general supervision —a nec.'ssity which has been 
 somewhat neglected at Montreal, simply for want of a duhj authurized Collectors 
 Aasislfinl. Heretofore, the undersigned has suffered from the above facts not 
 
 28257*? 
 
8 
 
 bein}>- known to, or piojMirly appre(Matod by the Departni«'nt ; but he hopes, 
 now that they have l)et'ii authoritatively established, that recognition, although 
 tardy, may b«! soon Ibllowod by tangible reward to one who has long been 
 patient under hard v/ork, pert'oruied without personal credit, lor very poor 
 pay. 
 
 W. J. O'HARA. 
 
 l)e«enil)er l.")th, 187!«. 
 
 Copy ol' my Oihcial Appli«ation to the Honorable MacKenzie liowell, Minister 
 of Customs, praying for promotion and pay — ade(j[uate to the position 
 I have virtually Hlled lor years without pro[)i'r recognition or 
 reward : — 
 
 CUST(»M HorSK, MoNTREATi, 
 
 4th March, 1879. 
 Sib, 
 
 I beg hereby to make application lor promotion to the position oi Assistant 
 or Deputy-Collector of Customs at the Port of Montreal. 1 base my prayer on 
 the fact that I have performed the duties of such a position for nearly ten years, 
 without suitable recognition or adequate remuneration by the ])i>partment, but 
 with every satisfaction, I have reason to believe to my immediate superior (the 
 Collector) under Iwo incumbencies. 
 
 I entered the SiM'vice in 1800, and the Collector's ollice in 1S08, and since 
 1809 have rendered more or less assistance in the important administrative 
 work of the olHtM'. while sharing largely its burden ot mental labour and 
 actual routine. Und«'r the Department as constituted prior to the .\utumn of 
 1873, I had .some ground to hope that my servii-es would gradvuilly come to be 
 recognized and rewarded ; but, since that time. I have remained in forgetful- 
 ness and obscurity, and. although my situation did not improve in rank or pay, 
 it did not, I vt'iiture to think, decrease in labour or usefulness. 
 
 ()fti<'ers of Customs in the United States ren<i 'ring services similar to mine 
 are «^alled ■ Deputy-Collectors" (thi^re an; several at tht! larg.' ports); and it is 
 scarcely necessary to .say they are remunerated in accordance with the positions 
 they [ill; not, as in my case for years, required to assist in important adminis- 
 trative work at a chn'k's rank and salary. I trust that my casi' will now be 
 looked into and considered, and I have no doubt the result will shew that 
 compliance with my prayer will be no more than an act of tardy justice, which 
 I shall nevertheless appreciate as coming at a time when, perhaps, most needed, 
 and be gratelul for in word and deed, as in duty bound. 
 
 I have the honor to b,^ &c., &c., 
 (Signed), VV. J. O'HARA. 
 
Mr. Colh'ctor Simpson tniiiHinitUul th«' rthovf with u strong riMouimcnda- 
 tion, Htating that h<* had in (lilit>n>nt and many vvayN l)rouu-lit the applicaiitH 
 «-aH«» bt^foro th« Department. He fonHidert'd it a greut injustit'e, the retaining 
 the Herviees of ho talented a man at I he miserably small stipend of i^lOOd. while 
 ot/ier ojfiiffs in much iMf'enar /xtsifions were receiving miK'h higher salaries. The 
 late Minister promised to remedy this repeatedly, )>ut never did do anything 
 ibr Mr. O'llara. There is no doubt Mr. O'llani with his ((uaiilieations, his 
 knowledge ol" Customs law and practiee could do better in some ol' the Mercan- 
 tile Houses ol' this city; and unless something is done ior him at once, the 
 l)ei)arlment will probably lose his services which he (Mr. Simpson) would 
 deplore as a seri<ms lo.ss to the Department. He trusted, ther.'lbre, the trovern- 
 ment would grant Mr. O'llara a salary adec^uale to his position, and rank, in 
 accordance therewith. 
 
 4th Mar.h, 1879. 
 
 CrsTo.M House, Montreal, 
 :3rd June. 1879. 
 My Deak Sir. 
 
 In the hope which you weie good enough to inculcate, 1 ask leave to refer 
 to my application for promotion and increasi' of salary ; and. in ord«'r to 
 strengthen your hands u^hen recommending my claims in the Council. I enclose 
 herewith meiioranda which will show, to some extent, the nature of the services 
 I have been rendering her*' for years, unknown, I must pr.'sume, to th ; G-oveni- 
 meut — since I haAv bi'en left to plod away so long in obs -urity and neglect. 
 
 An impartial consideration of th»! facts of my case will be found. I trust, 
 to warrant my re({uest for promotion to the position 1 have bi'cn (u-iudlh/ Hlling 
 during all these years — namely that of sub — or Di'puty-Collector. 
 
 In my olficial apj)lication, I refrained from suggesting any ligures as to 
 salary, supposing that both yourself and the Grovernmeut would re.-ognize that 
 the position was worth at least $2000. To be in keeping with my WDrk and 
 wants, this is certainly the smallest increase, I can reasonably expect. 1 
 make this re([uest with full knowledge and appreciation of the desire of the 
 Grovernment to economize here, especially owing to the large increase of «'xpen- 
 diture under the administration of 1873-78. 
 
 I have had some share in pointing out to what that in 'r.'use is attributable 
 and in thinking out a preliminary plan of reduction; and will, no doubt, if I 
 remain here, have much to do in helping into operation any scheme of e-onomy 
 and reform that may be adopted. But, I cannot believe that the Government 
 
will follow up th»Mr i)r«'(liM'»>NHorN' n«'gl«Mt of \w hy viHitinp- \i|)on mo th«i 
 ••oiisiMjurnct' ol" th«'ir prt'dcfCHHorw' t'xtnivnf?iiu<"»' 
 
 That would, ill my caNf, he sacriliciiij^ justic. lo rctrt'iu-hmciit with a 
 veiijift'aiitr, pra<ti<ally h<»l(liiiijf uw rcHpoiiHihlc for what I had no fontrol ov«'r 
 and did not proHt by, while permit tiii«r the same to continue and prevail, in 
 oth»'r taseN for whiih neither etficieney nor long ve,sl»>d rij^hts, so l») spj'uk, 
 eould he put forth as a warrant. 
 
 In <'on«lusioii, let me say I owe my appointment to the present Ministfr of 
 Finaiire — Sir Samuel L. Tilley, to whom, it may aot hi' <jut of place for me to 
 refer you for any further account ot my «'areer, since— say IHHH. when I was 
 appointed to my present duties, haviii!,^ previously hecn a Tidewaiter and 
 Ijocker. 
 
 With every lu'lief in an earnest desire on y<mr part to deal with cases 
 fairly — on their merits, — allow me to suhscrihe myself, my d«^ar sir, 
 
 Your very devoted and faithful servant. 
 
 (Signed), W. J. O'lIARA. 
 
 Custom Housk. Montup:al, 
 
 IHth September, 1879. 
 My Dear Sir, 
 
 With a view to the strengthening of your hands in the aecomplishm«'nt of 
 whatever intentions you may have in n^gard to the improvement of my position 
 in the service here, let me suggest to you the bringing of the subject before 
 Council when Sir Leonard Tillev is present for he is more familiar, than 
 probably any other member of the ministry, with my career in the Customs 
 service and the nature of the position \ occupy and the duties I perform and 
 have performed for years. 
 
 When taking his leave of the Customs Department for that of Finance in 
 April, 1873, he was good enough to write me as follows: — " I will very gladly 
 • express to my successor (Hon. Dr. Tupper) the value I attach to your services 
 " and the faithful mann<»r in which you have discharged them entitling you to 
 •' his most favorable consideration * * * I will always be glad to here of your 
 " a<lvancement in the Service." 
 
 Unfortunately the change of 187-1 took phi e some months alterwards. and 
 my position has never improved since in rank or pay. although it has steadily 
 increased i i labor and responsibility, and in the important nature of the assist- 
 ance rendered constantly to the administrative officer of this establishment. 
 
6 
 
 Hen'tofore, I suftered from thoso facts noi Unwr known to the hoad of the 
 Depart nu:it and the (iovernmeut ; \n\t now thai thoy have been admitted and 
 made known olHrLilly and otherwise to the; Department, I naturally expect 
 that Hiich services will not only be oHicially and suitably recognised but 
 adequately remunerated, and that I shall not be allowed to continue as 
 AmHtarit Collector at a clerk' a salary. 
 
 There is no case of neglect and want of t'onsideration at the Port, so great 
 as mine The circumstances show it and I feel it. 
 
 For several years prior to 1873, (as well as since; I practically performed 
 the most important, mental and administrative work of this olhce, while the 
 credit therefor was distributed in other quarters, so far as the Department was 
 concerned, although it was neither unknown to nor unappreciated by the 
 men-antile community and the public familiar with Custom House work. Ten 
 years is a long time to render important administrative servic^es with only a 
 clerk's recognition and salary and without even the credit ot the facts; and, I 
 confess, it has now tested my patience to the utmost. If the (ioveiiiment to 
 which I owe my original appointment, embracing Ministers who are best 
 acquainted with my antecedents and familiar now with the actual cinmm- 
 stances of my «;ase, to whom recommendations have gone in my behalf from 
 friendly sources in whi(;h they are wont to have confidence— cannot do me 
 simple justice, then I i-\ust begin to despair of b^ing able to attain (however 1 
 might work for or merit it) advancement in the Public tServicc of the Dominion ; 
 and 1 must look for success in some other channel where the personal interest 
 of those served may be able to prevail against narrowness, jealousy and section- 
 alism, which are found in the public service and met wi h even by Miiiisters 
 of the Crown when they seek to carry out their views for the benefit of their 
 departments. In any eveni, I am sensible of and grateful for what I believe to 
 be an earnest wish on your part to accomplish what you believe to be fair and 
 right in my case, and with the assurance of my respecttnl and sini-ere regard. 
 
 I beg to remain, dear sir. 
 
 Yours faithfully. 
 
 (Signed), W. .). O'llAKA. 
 
 Honorable MacKenzie Howell, Minister of (\rst(»ms. Ottawa. 
 
tmi 
 
 Letters to Sir Leoiund Tilley on the same subject :— 
 
 Custom House. 
 Montreal, 27th September. lS7i>. 
 Dear 8ir Leonard Tilley. 
 
 Pardon me if I trouble you with a personal matter, but as you are the 
 member of the Ciovernment most (onversant with my career in the Customs. I 
 am under the necessity of asking you to give me what support you think I 
 deserve in regard to any recommendation that may be made to C'ouncil by th(5 
 head of my own Department. 
 
 I believe the Hon. Mr. Bowell recognizes that there is no comparison 
 between my salary and rank, and the duties I perform, and he has some inten- 
 tion of improving the two former; but as he may meet with some difficulty in 
 view of the economic desires of the Government, I look to you to prevent the 
 sacriRc^e of justice to economy, if you think the case warrants better treatment. 
 I hope I am not expecting too much, but I feel that I have been neglected since 
 1873. I am in th*- same position to-day that I was when the Hon. Dr. Tupper 
 retired from the Customs Department, in regard to rank and pay, while in 
 regard to the nature and extent of my services in administrative work here, 
 I venture to think, they have certainly had an upward tendency. 
 
 I enclose copy of my application for promotion recommend«'d by the 
 Collector— paper A ; a memorandum of the opinions of my sui)eriors anent my 
 servi.-es him\ imlu<iing favorable ones kindly expressed by yoixrself— paper B : 
 and, lastly paper C, showing the confidence reposed in my ability to do adminis- 
 trative work by my immediate superior— it, also, shows that in point of 
 capacity, I am held to rank next to the Surveyor. I naturally think that, under 
 the circumstiunes. there should not be such a contrast between my a<-tual 
 ])ositioii — its remuneration, and the imi)ortant help rendered. I am asking lor 
 double my i>resent salary— namely for $2000 per annum. Mv «hiei' gets $4000; 
 the Surveyor, 12,400 ; I get #1000 ! 
 
 Yoiirs faithfully. 
 (Signed), W. .1. OHAIIA. 
 
 [COPY] 
 
 Office of Coli.ector of Customs. 
 
 Montreal, 12th September, 1S7J>. 
 Mr. W. J. O'Hara is hereby authorized to act forme during my abstMic 
 from the Port of Montreal, tn-morrow. and on such days ok the Surveyor is not 
 
 present, and to sign his name as Acting Collector. 
 
 (Signed), 
 
 W H. SIMPSON. 
 
 Collector. 
 
CUfSTOM HoU.SK. MoNTliEAL, 
 
 2iul OctobLT, 1879. 
 Dear Sir Leonard Tilley, 
 
 I am thanklul to you tor your kind answer. 
 
 It i.s a pn-tty larg-e jump, I admit ; hut if I could yet the faet« upon whi.-h 
 the expertation i.s based hiid fully before the G-overnment (authoritatively,— not 
 by myself) they would, I think, be held to justify a jump which ought to have 
 been made by .stages ere this. I have been so long stati.uuiry, in point of 
 salary, (since 1873) while always progressing in the value and extent of 
 intellectual and administrative assistance rendered my oHicial chief, that 1 feel 
 a good jump, in that respect, would not be out of order now. However it may 
 appear, it is really an unpleasant task to m*^ to blow my own horn. It would 
 be far more satisfactory and, 1 hav no doubt, doubly' effectual if a full and 
 clear blast were blown from it, by those who could do so with better grace 
 than I can, a.id whose duty it is to do so. But, having waited ten years foi 
 such a service, I may, I think, be pardoned, if I liiul myself forced at last to 
 take up the tntmpet in iny own cause. 
 
 Ten years ago, I was pnu^tically the Acting-Collector of this Port in the 
 absence of Mr. Delisle, to whom he avowedly^ looked for the conduct of his 
 ofhee while he was away ; and. at all times, I was his Assistant in some of his 
 most important duties, while [ shared larg.dv the burden of ofhce routine. I 
 have never ceased to render these important services: on the contrary, they 
 have extended as I grew in judgment and experience. They were an absolute 
 nc-i'ssity too : as no one man, without such assistance, could -oi^e with the labours 
 of the positio!!. Mr. Delisle, in a sort of a way, admitted this in a report to th.. 
 Hon. Dr. Tupper in 1873— too late, however, to help me. The present Colle.-tor 
 has rcognized it to the extent of appointing me to act for him in case of 
 temporary absence, vvheii the Survey,),- is not present-therel>v making .n(« 
 rank in importance, ability and position next to the Surveyor. From this I 
 turn to my ofhcial rank and salary as a clerk ; and I am sensible of the contrast 
 and incongruity, not to .say injustice, since I have, so far, put up with the 
 situation. 
 
 Yours faithfully, 
 (Siirned), W. J. O'HAKA.